To advance the health and wellness of our campus community, we are now requiring that individuals, regardless of vaccination status, wear face coverings when they are in indoor settings at campus locations.
The COVID situation continues to be fluid. We will keep you informed of any new or changing public-health protocols on campus as we approach the start of fall quarter.
Individuals are not required to wear face coverings when alone in offices not open to the public or when in a personal residence or private residence-hall room, though they will be required in shared spaces such as residence-hall hallways, group bathrooms and lounges. The requirement will be effective as of Tuesday, Aug. 3. Campus units can request face coverings through our COVID-19 Supplies Request Form.
This change comes as pandemic conditions continue to change across our state and region. Last week, in light of the spreading Delta variant, the federal Centers for Disease Control updated some of its guidance for fully vaccinated people. The CDC suggests that fully vaccinated people should wear a mask in public indoor settings if they are in an area of substantial or high-transmission risk in order to reduce the risk of becoming infected with the Delta variant and potentially spreading it to others. The CDC has published a map where you can track the level of transmission by state and county. Santa Cruz County, as well as Santa Clara County, where our Silicon Valley Campus is located, are both categorized as having substantial levels of community transmission as of this week.
Over the past 16 months, our campus community has demonstrated care, adaptability and resilience. Thank you for your continued vigilance in supporting the health and wellness of your fellow Slugs.
