rising where they are not. Just this week, on June 15, California lifted the bulk of its coronavirus restrictions.
We are deep in planning for the repopulation of campus this fall. We expect instruction will be primarily in-person and that our housing will be close to capacity. Those things will require that we bring most of our faculty and many staff back to campus, too. Some will remain remote, while others will adopt hybrid schedules. We are seeking to be flexible while also ensuring the mission of the university is met. Our exact timing and approach will be guided by state and local health regulations.
We have come a long way since March 2020, when the emerging pandemic required us to switch to remote teaching and learning. It was just over a year ago that we were uprighting our own COVID diagnostic lab and establishing an asymptomatic testing protocol. I am extremely proud to say that the COVID-19 infection rate for those living and working on our campus remained extremely low through the worst months of the pandemic compared to state and county levels. That was due to the cooperation and diligence of our entire campus community.
We have shown ourselves to be exceedingly strong and resilient, and this resourcefulness will serve as a strong foundation for UC Santa Cruz in the days and years to come. I am happy to pass along to you this edition of COVID Chronicles, our e-newsletter series intended to keep our extended community updated on COVID-related campus news. This is our final edition of the 2020-21 academic year.
Stay safe, stay well, and stay connected.
