LCAD plans to resume in-person classes in fall

Laguna College of Art and Design plans to bring back in-person classes for the fall 2021 semester, the school announced this week.

“The entire teaching and staff community are eager to return to campus and welcome our students,” Hélène Garrison, chief operating officer and provost at LCAD, said in a statement issued Wednesday. “If there is any gift to be found from this pandemic, it is the even deeper commitment and appreciation of LCAD’s mission to support our students.

“Every conversation and decision has focused on how we can work with our students one-on-one to meet their needs, and we look forward to the day when we can do so face-to-face, in person.”

Garrison added the school would not be mandating that students and staff get vaccinated to return to campus.

In the fall 2020 and spring 2021 terms during the coronavirus pandemic, the college has offered limited use of campus facilities. Students had to have appointments for studio space and the LCAD Fabrication Lab.

Health and safety protocols implemented by the college have included requirements for physical distancing and masks, as well as regular sanitation of touch points.

The college still plans to have a virtual commencement ceremony on May 21. Jonathan Burke, who recently retired as president of the college, is expected to be the keynote speaker.

Orange County progressed to the red tier regarding its coronavirus transmission on March 14. The Orange County Health Care Agency reported 14 coronavirus deaths and 127 new infections for the county in data released Friday.

During the pandemic, the county has had 4,536 deaths attributed to the virus and a cumulative case count of 249,308.

Hospitalizations in the county are at 206, with 44 of those patients being treated in intensive care units.

The county reported 14,079 more tests for the virus on Friday, bringing the total number of tests administered countywide to 3,227,549. The healthcare agency estimates that 240,681 people in the county have recovered after contracting the virus.

Here are the latest cumulative coronavirus case counts and COVID-19 deaths for select cities in Orange County:

• Santa Ana: 44,410 cases; 796 deaths
• Anaheim: 41,314 cases; 795 deaths
• Huntington Beach: 10,424 cases; 201 deaths
• Costa Mesa: 8,778 cases; 122 deaths
• Irvine: 10,296 cases; 79 deaths
• Newport Beach: 3,682 cases; 71 deaths
• Fountain Valley: 3,435 cases; 77 deaths
• Laguna Beach: 808 cases; five deaths

Here are the case counts by age group, followed by deaths:

• 0 to 17: 25,900 cases; one death
• 18 to 24: 34,440 cases; nine deaths
• 25 to 34: 49,633 cases; 44 deaths
• 35 to 44: 38,791 cases; 98 deaths
• 45 to 54: 39,989 cases; 283 deaths
• 55 to 64: 31,450 cases; 633 deaths
• 65 to 74: 15,661 cases; 881 deaths
• 75 to 84: 7,928 cases; 1,118 deaths
• 85 and older: 5,355 cases; 1,469 deaths

Updated figures are posted daily at occovid19.ochealthinfo.com/coronavirus-in-oc. Information on COVID-19 vaccines in Orange County can be found at occovid19.ochealthinfo.com/covid-19-vaccine-resources.

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