With UF reopening again for the fall semester, many revisions have been made to accommodate students who may have contracted the coronavirus and students who will be required to quarantine. Although this may sound great, these students are being placed in housing apartments alongside other students who aren’t diagnosed or suspected if having COVID-19.

 According to the UF Campus Reopening Plan for Fall 2020, it says  "Agreements in Housing providers are in place to isolate students that need to be quarantined as needed". The vacant apartments across all villages on-campus have not been posted for rent since the past two months, and measures are being taken to accommodate all of the vacant apartments with furniture to start bringing COVID patients shortly. While they could dedicate a specific building for such purposes, all vacant apartments across the villages are being furnished. This has caused a huge panic to the current residents which are all young families with kids. The laundry room is shared among all residents as well as the playground, several stairways, etc. This plan does not take into consideration that current residents may be immunocompromised and living alongside COVID patients can risk their health. We are shedding light on this matter because the University of Florida is responsible for ensuring the safety of all students and families residing in on-campus housing. 

We are suggesting that UF find alternative arrangements for housing students with COVID. This is to improve health safety measures and ensure that patients and non-patients will not be living next to each other. Many of us have already signed contracts with UF housing and may not afford to sign a lease elsewhere. 

Our multiple attempts to contact UF housing officials have not been successful. Therefore, we are asking you all to sign this petition in order to bring more attention to the UF community, so some action can be done.