In response to our campus operational update last week, we have received questions about the actions units can take regarding face covering requirements and vaccine verification. We are utilizing a consistent approach across campus, and units, unless required to do so because of state, county or other guidelines impacting their particular operation, should not add or implement department specific rules or protocols. As campus-wide protocols change, we will update you.
Face coverings
The state has outlined the following guidelines for face coverings, and the campus protocols currently align with them. We will let you know if campus protocols change.
- Vaccinated people do not need to wear masks, except in the following settings where masks are required for everyone:
- Public transit (for our campus this would include buses and shuttles)
- Healthcare settings, including long term care facilities (for our campus this would include the Student Health Center, CAPS facilities, COVID-19 test sites and Athletic Trainer spaces)
- Indoors in K-12 schools, childcare, and other youth settings (for our campus this would include the child care center and youth summer camps)
- State and local correctional facilities and detention centers
- Homeless shelters,emergency shelters, and cooling centers
- Unvaccinated people are required to wear masks in indoor public settings and businesses, such as:
- Retail
- Restaurants
- Theaters
- Family entertainment centers
- Meetings
- State and local government offices that serve the public
- For our campus, this includes any indoor locations
In addition, Cal/OSHA regulations state the following as it relates to employees:
- Masks are not required outdoors (except during outbreaks), regardless of vaccination status. However, masks are recommended for unvaccinated persons outdoors where six feet of physical distancing cannot be maintained.
- Fully-vaccinated employees do not need to wear masks indoors. There are some settings where masks are required regardless of vaccination status (see the list above). In outbreaks, all employees must wear masks indoors, as well as outdoors when six feet of physical distance cannot be maintained.
For more information, see Cal/OSHA’s COVID-19 Prevention Emergency Temporary Standard.
Except as outlined in the state guidance above, campus units should not implement additional mask rules, protocols, guidance, or requirements for people accessing their programs or facilities.
Vaccine verification
The campus is currently implementing the tools needed to comply with vaccine reporting requirements and the forthcoming UC vaccine policy that will make COVID-19 vaccinations mandatory for all faculty, staff, academic appointees, and students accessing facilities at any UC location this fall. Units should not independently request to see proof of vaccination from employees, students or anyone else accessing programs or facilities.
As an initial step, the UCSC COVID-19 Symptom Check Questionnaire is being updated to allow employees to voluntarily report vaccine status. Eventually, the campus module to upload proof of vaccination will be the official means for individuals to report their vaccination status. We will be sharing more details with you in the weeks to come, as the UC policy and implementation guidelines are finalized by the Office of the President.
If you have not yet been vaccinated, we encourage you to do so, and several convenient options are available.
Thank you for your continued efforts as we ramp up our operations.
