<html>
<head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=Windows-1252">
<style type="text/css" style="display:none;"> P {margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;} </style>
</head>
<body dir="ltr">
<div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Calibri,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">
<font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"></font>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 107%; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><font color="#000000" face="Calibri">Good afternoon,
</font></span></p>
<font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"></font>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 107%; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><font color="#000000" face="Calibri">The
</font></span><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/08/briefing/arizona-mary-trump-facebook-your-wednesday-briefing.html"><span style="line-height: 107%; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><font color="#395180" face="Calibri">New
York Times</font></span></a><span style="line-height: 107%; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><font face="Calibri"><font color="#000000"> last Wednesday ranked Arizona No. 1 for the
</font><span style="background: white; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">most confirmed new coronavirus cases
</span><font color="#000000">in the world, reporting that an alarming rate of increase in infections was continuing. Nationally, as of today, news sources rank Arizona third in
</font><span style="background: white; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">coronavirus cases</span><font color="#000000"> per 100,000 people (1,683), after New York (2,065) and New Jersey (1,974).
</font></font></span></p>
<font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"></font>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 107%; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><font color="#000000" face="Calibri">We’ve been reading for at least ten days that an exponential increase in
“COVID cases” has occurred in Arizonans younger than 44 and we must prepare for an imminent hospital services collapse. Our news is telling us that a lot has changed since we came out of lockdown and not for the better. But it hasn’t just gotten bad, it’s
gotten really, really bad: it is exponentially bad! </font></span></p>
<font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"></font>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 107%; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><font color="#000000" face="Calibri">I have a son at UArizona and I have a daughter going into high school. I
have a high-risk family member (and I don’t like admitting my age isn’t in my favor either). My job requires me to get onto airplanes, travel in cars with people, and meet a lot of people of all age groups, in all demographics and political persuasions—all
the time—in addition to being with college students and ALVSCE employees. </font>
</span></p>
<font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"></font>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 107%; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><font color="#000000" face="Calibri">Nature on July 8 published “</font></span><a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02058-1"><span style="line-height: 107%; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><font color="#395180" face="Calibri">Mounting
evidence suggests coronavirus is airborne — but health advice has not caught up</font></span></a><span style="line-height: 107%; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><font color="#000000" face="Calibri">.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We’re familiar with the data behind this assertion. The WHO now states, “Aerosol transmission, particularly in these indoor locations where there are crowded and inadequately ventilated spaces where infected persons spend long periods of time with others,
<i>cannot be ruled out</i>.” I found this </font></span><a href="https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2020/7/13/21315879/covid-19-airborne-who-aerosol-droplet-transmission"><span style="color: rgb(68, 114, 196); line-height: 107%; font-size: 12pt; mso-themecolor: accent1;"><font face="Calibri">Vox
article</font></span></a><font face="Calibri"><span style="color: rgb(68, 114, 196); line-height: 107%; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent1;">
</span><span style="line-height: 107%; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><font color="#000000">about it useful, though not comforting.
</font></span></font></p>
<font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"></font>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 107%; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><font color="#000000" face="Calibri">If you think this news is scary, I am right there with you.
</font></span></p>
<font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"></font>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 107%; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><font color="#000000" face="Calibri">Naturally, many university faculty members and schoolteachers are deeply
concerned about going back into the classroom to teach face-to-face (and I include
<i>Extension “classrooms”</i>). I am nervous about it too, right now. </font></span></p>
<font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"></font>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 107%; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><font color="#000000" face="Calibri">Provost Folks on Saturday sent an email to faculty in which she wrote, “I
anticipate that we will need to approach the start of the semester with maximum flexibility, in order to be responsive to the local conditions in mid-August.”
</font></span></p>
<font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"></font>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 107%; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><font color="#000000" face="Calibri">This means, that thankfully, I don’t have to do any of these things,
<i>right now</i>.</font></span></p>
<font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"></font>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 107%; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><font color="#000000" face="Calibri">Right now, unlike our hospital health providers, I think most of us are in
the eye of a storm. A time of relative calm. The next part of our “storm” will be bad, but I don’t know how bad. It could be as bad as I am worried about, or not fulfill my worst imaginings. I just don’t know. But we must take time to lower our adrenaline
and cortisol levels when possible. I know that mine will be up again soon enough. We all need some time to decompress a little, so please join me for an Eye of The Storm Zoom happy hour at 5:30 p.m. today.</font></span></p>
<font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"></font>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 107%; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><font color="#000000" face="Calibri">There is some inkling of positive information. College of Medicine-Tucson
Dean Mike Abecassis last Friday told me and the other deans that our hospital health providers are in the middle of dealing with the greatest COVID disease load that they have faced so far; that Tucson hospitals risk having to slow down taking care of non-COVID
patients; but that the pressure on the Tucson hospitals had seemed to have plateaued and was possibly even lowering; that, though our health heroes are “close to the brink”, they are “hanging in there.” I am sure you will join me in thanking these heroes and
their families for battling their greatest challenge so far. </font></span></p>
<font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"></font>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 107%; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><font color="#000000" face="Calibri">Moreover, we are seeing that because most new SARS-CoV2 infections since
lockdown are in younger Arizonans, most of these infections are resulting in much less, and much less severe, disease. There are fewer, shorter, hospital stays. Arizona’s SARS-CoV2 infection mortality rate is much lower than two weeks ago.
</font></span></p>
<font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"></font>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 107%; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><font face="Calibri"><font color="#000000">As we all know by now, SARS-CoV2 infection rates can get out of hand
quickly. Though the disease rate is brought under control more slowly, the start of the semester is still a long way away in “COVID-time”. If we are indeed at a state disease plateau, then there is still time for us to see our infection risk to drop considerably.
This week, Arizonans’ behavior over the 4<sup>th</sup> of July weekend will play out in our hospitals.</font><span style="color: rgb(54, 54, 54);"> T</span><font color="#000000">his week will be telling. I will be tuning in to hear President Robbins and the
Campus Reentry Task Force Thursday at 10 a.m. to hear more on our current situation. </font></font></span></p>
<font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"></font>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 107%; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><font color="#000000" face="Calibri">Because we will know much more in the next few weeks—and I am personally
balancing the risk of COVID for myself, my family and our community with the risk of devastating university job losses—I was reassured to read Provost Folks’ statement.
</font></span></p>
<font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"></font>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 107%; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><font color="#000000" face="Calibri">I would never expect anyone to take a risk that I wouldn’t take, and I do
not want COVID. I don’t want you to get COVID. President Robbins has made it clear many times that we will not be going into classrooms if conditions are not safe.
</font></span></p>
<font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"></font>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 107%; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><font color="#000000" face="Calibri">Almost everyone I see on my rare jaunts from home is wearing a mask and wearing
it properly so I’m hopful that in the next few weeks before students come back, the risk will decrease greatly.</p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><br>
</p>
</font></span>
<p></p>
</div>
<div>
<div id="Signature">
<div>
<div></div>
<div></div>
<div></div>
<div></div>
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"></span>
<div id="divtagdefaultwrapper" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Calibri,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;" dir="ltr">
<div style="margin: 0px; font-family: Calibri,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" name="divtagdefaultwrapper">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"></span>
<div style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13px;">
<div style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13px;"><font face="Tahoma" size="1"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"></span>
<div>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">
<br>
</p>
<div style="margin: 0px 0in; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br>
</div>
<p></p>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"></span>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-size: 10pt;"></span></b></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; color: rgb(32, 31, 30); font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 400; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
<b><span style="background: white; margin: 0px; color: rgb(0, 112, 192); font-size: 9pt;">My mask protects you, your mask protects me</span></b><b><span style="margin: 0px; color: rgb(0, 112, 192); font-size: 9pt;">.</span></b><span style="margin: 0px; color: rgb(0, 112, 192); font-size: 9pt;"><span> </span>We’ve
controlled infectious diseases without vaccines for thousands of years.</span><span style="margin: 0px; color: black; font-size: 9pt;"><span> </span></span><b><span style="margin: 0px; color: red; font-size: 9pt;">Wearing our masks</span></b><span style="margin: 0px; color: black; font-size: 9pt;"><span> </span></span><span style="margin: 0px; color: rgb(68, 114, 196); font-size: 9pt;">means
we can have a functioning economy<span> </span><u>and</u> concurrently save thousands of lives</span><span style="margin: 0px; color: red; font-size: 9pt;">.</span><span style="margin: 0px; color: black; font-size: 9pt;"></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; color: rgb(32, 31, 30); font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 400; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
<span style="background: white; margin: 0px; color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; color: rgb(32, 31, 30); font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 400; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
<u><span style="background: white; margin: 0px; color: rgb(0, 112, 192); font-size: 9pt;">All UA employees must</span></u><u><span style="margin: 0px; color: rgb(0, 112, 192); font-size: 9pt;"><span> </span>wear a face covering inside all UA buildings</span></u><span style="margin: 0px; color: rgb(0, 112, 192); font-size: 9pt;"><span> </span>(except
when in private offices, work spaces, and formal meeting areas where physical distancing of at least six feet is possible) and in<span> </span><u>UA outdoor spaces</u><span> </span>except where physical distancing of at least six feet is possible.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;"></span></p>
<br>
</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div><b><span style="color: rgb(12, 35, 75); line-height: 107%; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Shane C. Burgess</span></b><span style="color: rgb(118, 118, 118); line-height: 107%; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br>
</span><span style="color: rgb(118, 118, 118); line-height: 107%; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Vice President for Agriculture, Life and Veterinary Sciences, and
<font face="Tahoma" size="1"><span style="color: rgb(118, 118, 118); line-height: 107%; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Cooperative Extension<br>
</span></font>Charles-Sander Dean of the College of Agriculture & Life Sciences </span>
<span style="color: rgb(118, 118, 118); line-height: 107%; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br>
</span><span style="color: rgb(118, 118, 118); line-height: 107%; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA</span><span style="color: rgb(118, 118, 118); line-height: 107%; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br>
<br>
</span><span style="color: rgb(118, 118, 118); line-height: 107%; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Forbes Building, Room 306 | 1140 E. South Campus Drive<br>
P.O. Box 210036 | Tucson, AZ 85721-0036<br>
Office: 520-621-7621<br>
<a href="mailto:sburgess@cals.arizona.edu"><span style="color: rgb(118, 118, 118);">sburgess@cals.arizona.edu</span></a><br>
<b><a href="https://alvsce.arizona.edu/"><span style="color: rgb(139, 0, 21);">alvsce.arizona.edu</span></a></b><br>
</span><b><span style="color: rgb(139, 0, 21); line-height: 107%; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="https://cals.arizona.edu/"><span style="color: rgb(139, 0, 21);">cals.arizona.edu</span></a></span></b><span style="color: rgb(118, 118, 118); line-height: 107%; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br>
<a href="https://twitter.com/UAAgLifeVetExt"><span style="color: rgb(139, 0, 21); line-height: 107%; font-size: 9pt;">twitter</span></a></span><span style="color: rgb(118, 118, 118); line-height: 107%; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">
</span><br>
</div>
<div><span style="color: rgb(118, 118, 118); line-height: 107%; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><br>
</span></div>
<div><span style="color: rgb(118, 118, 118); line-height: 107%; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">
<span style="color: rgb(31, 78, 121); font-size: 10pt;">The University of Arizona is located statewide on the ancestral homelands of indigenous peoples.</span></p>
</span></div>
</font></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</body>
</html>