In an attempt to avoid COVID-19 outbreaks, the University of California, Davis is offering students $75 grants if they agree not to travel over spring break.
A Facebook post from UC Davis announced the first 500 students to opt in to the agreement program will receive payment for not traveling during the university’s spring break from March 22-26.
UC Davis spokeswoman Melissa Blouin said applications are accepted through Wednesday, adding that the program has shown promising interest among students so far, according to Fox News.
“The purpose of this $75 grant is to encourage UC Davis students not to travel during spring break and provide them with alternative activities to do during the week,” Blouin said. “This is an opportunity for students to create a memorable experience for the people they live with or are connected to virtually.”
The college provides four grant options for students applying using their school Google accounts, such as the Get Active Grant and the Get Artsy Grant. The grants are required to be redeemed at select Davis businesses during the spring break period, and students must show proof of identity when redeeming a grant.
Applicants must be students living full time on the UC Davis campus and must receive a COVID-19 test during the break.
For students traveling off campus for break, they must quarantine for 10 days after returning, according to California guidelines.
Other schools across the country have either opted for a condensed spring break this year, canceled the vacation, or offered a longer winter break or shortened semester as an attempt to discourage traveling to densely populated destinations that could be rife for potential coronavirus superspreader conditions.
Most universities responded to the pandemic by shifting classes to remote learning following spring break 2020, though many are seeking to avoid another dramatic shift back to online learning this year.
The University of Miami in Florida canceled the traditional weeklong spring break this year and scheduled two “Wellness Wednesdays” for March 3 and April 14, when classes will be canceled and students will be allowed to participate in activities such as yoga and other outdoor activities.
Last March, an overwhelming number of beachgoers in Florida caused Gov. Ron DeSantis to shutter beaches due to the risk of virus transmission.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention sent out a 2021 travel advisory email on Feb. 25 encouraging people to refrain once again from travel during the spring break time periods this year.
According to data from Johns Hopkins University, the United States has recorded 29 million COVID-19 cases and 527,000 deaths attributed to the virus. As of Tuesday, the CDC reported more than 93.6 million COVID-19 vaccines have been administered nationwide.
On March 2, the Transportation Security Administration released a statement noting that it does not “anticipate average daily passenger volume will remain well below pre-pandemic levels.”
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The Washington Examiner contacted UC Davis and the University of Miami but did not immediately receive a response.
