|
Dear KCSB listeners and Daily Nexus readers,
Unmasking Isla Vista is a collaborative, multimedia series made up of six components that will be released over the span of six weeks. The series will cover topics including Human Struggle, University & Students, Testing & Vaccines, Local Business & Essential Workers, Community Reflection, and Community Activism. Each section will be presented as a Daily Nexus article, KCSB News radio segment, and a KCSB newsletter. You'll find a new segment published every Monday at 10 AM.
– KCSB and Daily Nexus journalists
| |
Unmasking Isla Vista: Testing & Vaccines
by Atmika Iyer, Sindhu Ananthavel, and Yulene Teagle
| |
- As of July 16, 38% of individuals between ages 16 and 29 within the whole county remain unvaccinated. As of July 26, the 93117 zip code – which includes Isla Vista, Goleta, Gaviota, Naples and Capitan – has the sixth lowest vaccination rate in the county out of 22 zip codes at 54.1%. Out of 53,768 zip code residents, 24,696 residents are unvaccinated.
- One of Santa Barbara County’s first COVID-19 outbreaks occurred in I.V. Santa Barbara County Public Health Department (SBCPHD) Director Dr. Van Do-Reynoso remembers it “as the kickoff for the pandemic.” "I recall being really nervous about it because it was among our students. I knew that given the high mobility of the student population that it would be somewhat of a challenge mitigating the outbreak,” Do-Reynoso said.
- Testing in I.V. was initially difficult for community members to access, Do-Reynoso said. The I.V. Theater testing site — which was originally only a pop-up and later became permanent — was tailored to fit the convenience of I.V. residents.
| |
- UCSB mandated weekly testing and daily screening symptom tests for all students, faculty and staff who were living in campus housing or working on campus. UCSB provided testing at Loma Pelona Center and in the Linda Vista Room at Santa Catalina Residence Hall.
- The pandemic didn’t hit I.V. hard for the first few months — in fact, Do-Reynoso described the initial impact as “fairly benign, with the expected spikes.” But, the winter surge in cases did not leave the town unscathed either. Do-Reynoso said that in November and December 2020, cases in I.V. were quite minimal with active cases as low as 13. That number increased by more than nine times come January.
- I.V. shuffled through different jurisdictions of authority over the pandemic. The community is populated by students but not controlled by the university, and is unincorporated and therefore under county control. As a part of the university, UCSB Medical Director Ali Javanbakht said Student Health had little to no control over how I.V. responded to the pandemic.
| |
- SBCPHD was aware that utilizing law enforcement to address large gatherings “was not necessarily the best route to go,” Do-Reynoso said. Instead, she said, public health utilized the county’s community health ambassador program to conduct outreach and education.
- Do-Reynoso described the partnership with UCSB and SBCC as a “top success” in combating the pandemic in I.V. The meeting group consisted of public health, UCSB leaders, SBCC leaders, 3rd District Supervisor Joan Hartmann, the county executive office, the I.V. Community Services District (IVCSD) and Goleta city leaders.
- UCSB and SBCPHD also partnered to detect variants circulating in the county from various testing samples. People who got tested for COVID-19 in the county could opt in for their test to be analyzed by the university.
| |
- SBCPHD’s partnership with Cottage Health was one way it tried to increase vaccination numbers in I.V., Do-Reynoso added. As a result of Cottage Health opening its drive-thru vaccination site to bikers and walkers, the vaccination process became easier for I.V. residents who didn’t own vehicles. In addition, as summer was approaching, public health partnered with the university, Greek Life and IVCSD to bring mobile vaccination clinics to I.V.
- As of July 24, 83.2% of CA resident students planning on attending UCSB during Fall Quarter 2021 are fully vaccinated or partially vaccinated, according to UCSB spokesperson Andrea Estrada. That percentage excludes out-of-state and international students. The university also does not have the complete information of all first-year and transfer students regardless of their state of residence.
- Preparing for fall quarter on the university side of things is fairly complicated because they have to consider unvaccinated students as well, Dr. Javanbakht said. Features to help with managing viral spread include hand sanitizers, a badge system that communicates if a student is cleared to enter a campus building and more.
| |
|
About KCSB News:
KCSB News is a team of volunteer reporters, students, and community members who contribute to the KCSB 5 pm Newscast (Mondays/Thursdays) and Inside Isla Vista (Wednesdays at 5 pm) on 91.9 FM and KCSB.org. To listen to recent news stories go to soundcloud.com/kcsbfm.
Report for KCSB News! No experience is necessary; we will train you. Email news@kcsb.org to find out how. Got a news tip? Send it to news@kcsb.org.
About the Daily Nexus:
The Daily Nexus continues to be the go-to source to stay up-to-date on all things involving UCSB's campus and Isla Vista. We offer positions for writers, photographers, artists, and any creative souls interested in immersing themselves in culture and information. The Nexus provides a fast-paced environment for aspiring journalists, as well as learning opportunities for students who want to explore the stories that define our community. Check out recent news stories here.
Get involved with the Daily Nexus! No prior experience is necessary, and all UCSB students are welcome. Each section has its own application, and art, photography, copy, and production teams require applicants to submit a sample of their work. Email news@dailynexus.com for more information on how to join.
NEWSLETTER FEEDBACK Have suggestions for us to improve our newsletter content? Fill out this form with any feedback/constructive criticism you might have, and we'll be sure to take it under consideration as we produce our newsletter.
| |
|
|
|
|