Santa Cruz County has joined other Bay Area counties in adjusting the guidance for wearing face coverings indoors, regardless of vaccination status. This comes as we face an increasing number of COVID-19 cases in our county and the spread of the very infectious Delta variant. Specifically, the county guidance states:
“Out of an abundance of caution, people are recommended to wear masks indoors in places like grocery or retail stores, theaters, and family entertainment centers, even if they are fully vaccinated.”
In light of this guidance, we recommend that everyone, regardless of vaccination status, wear a face covering when accessing shared campus indoor spaces, particularly those that are open to the general public. This also applies to our Silicon Valley Campus, where Santa Clara County provided similar guidance last week.
Even with this updated recommendation, county health officials reiterate that “fully vaccinated people are well-protected from infections and serious illness due to COVID-19 including the Delta variants.”
As announced last week, the University of California system has implemented a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for employees and students. If you have not yet received your vaccine, several convenient options are available for you, and we encourage you to become vaccinated promptly. Additional information for students and employees is available on our Student Health Center website.
Each of us has a role to play in supporting the health of our campus community. Thank you for your continued vigilance as we navigate a dynamic situation.
