UC Riverside Begins Remote Classes Amid COVID Uptick

RIVERSIDE, CA — UC Riverside began a planned two weeks of remote classes Monday in an attempt to reduce the likelihood of COVID-19 transmission on campus.

The university expects "to return to our planned winter quarter modes of instruction the week of Jan. 17," Chancellor Kim Wilcox wrote in a letter to the campus community on Dec. 21.

Other University of California campuses also began remote instruction for their winter terms Monday.

UC Riverside has banned in-person indoor events through Jan. 17. When the men's and women's basketball teams resume play, all home games in the SRC Arena will be held without fans through Jan. 17, subject to change.

Both teams have paused activities due to COVID-19 concerns.

The number of Riverside County residents hospitalized with the coronavirus has surged past 500, increasing by 48 people to 510, according to the latest state figures.

The number of those patients in intensive care rose from 86 on Friday to 94 Saturday.
Riverside County officials said the aggregate number of COVID cases recorded since the public health documentation period began in March 2020 is 399,023.

On Thursday, the Riverside University Health System reported that a total of 5,585 deaths from virus-related complications have been recorded in the past 21 months. The fatalities are trailing indicators because of delays processing death certificates and can go back weeks, according to health officials.

The next COVID update from county officials is expected Monday afternoon.