Coronavirus (COVID-19)
UPDATES:
11/14/23 Important Announcement:
Materials Sci. & Engineering Building 1st Floor Outbreak Notice
11/08/23 Important Announcement:
Highlander Union Building 2nd Floor Outbreak Notice
10/24/23 Important Announcement:
Free Vaccination Clinic for Faculty, Staff & Students.
10/04/23: Important Announcement:
Campus health, vaccine policy and COVID-19 for Fall 2023
As we eagerly anticipate the return of students, faculty, and staff to our campus for the upcoming fall semester, it remains imperative that we maintain the vigilance and precautions that have served us well in managing the challenges posed by COVID-19 and other contagious illnesses, such as the flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), over the past few years. The well-being of our Highlander community is our top priority, and to that end, we'd like to share some essential reminders and updates.
UPDATED UCOP VACCINE POLICY: the UCOP Policy on Vaccination Programs – With Interim Revisions, went into effect on August 16, 2023 and can be accessed online at http://policy.ucop.edu/.
What the Policy Updates mean to you:
1. COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement: The policy now requires all covered individuals to receive or affirmatively decline the COVID-19 vaccine/booster on an annual basis.
The deadline to record your decision is December 1, 2023. Employees must access and record their action in the campus employee Patient Portal on or before the deadline to assure that they are in compliance with the policy. The policy no longer mandates that covered individuals must be up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccination or receive a University-approved exception and no “non pharmaceutical interventions” (NPIs) such as masking is required for those that are not vaccinated. Registration holds will not be placed on student records.
2. Seasonal Influenza (flu) vaccine requirement: The policy requires that all covered individuals must receive or affirmatively decline the flu vaccine. The deadline to record your decision is December 1, 2023, and likely annually thereafter. Employees must access the campus employee Patient Portal on or before the deadline to assure that they are in compliance with the policy. Registration holds will not be placed on student records.
REMINDERS:
• Prioritize Self-Care: If you are feeling unwell or displaying symptoms of illness, please stay home. This simple step is crucial in preventing the spread of infections.
• Reporting COVID-19 Positive Cases: If you test positive for COVID-19 and were at a campus location, report your case using this link. Students must report positive cases through the student portal.
• Stay Informed with Our COVID-19 Dashboard: Regularly check our COVID-19 dashboard for updates on campus locations where a COVID-19 positive case or outbreaks may have occurred.
• Maintain Good Hygiene Practices: Continue practicing proper handwashing and respiratory hygiene to reduce the risk of transmission. Masks request can be made at: https://ehs.ucr.edu/coronavirus/facecoverings
• Antigen Test Kits Request: COVID-19 antigen tests are available upon request for faculty/staff while supplies last. Student should contact Student Health Services for PCR testing.
It's important to note that COVID-19 protocols have evolved, and our ability to track cases across campus has become less intensive compared to previous years. Many public health mandates have been relaxed, and contact tracing efforts have scaled down. Instead, we closely collaborate with our local public health department to monitor community epidemiology and adjust our response as needed.
UCR experienced a slight increase in positive cases in August, and some sites reported outbreaks. Nationally, we've observed a similar trend with a slight uptick in hospitalizations. These fluctuations are not unexpected for respiratory viruses, particularly considering summer travel and potential waning immunity from prior infections and vaccinations.
As we navigate the challenges posed by these contagious diseases, let us continue to prioritize the health and well-being of our Highlander community. Your cooperation and commitment to these guidelines are crucial in fostering a safe and healthy campus environment. Together, we can overcome these challenges and ensure a successful fall quarter.
Thank you,
Dr. Kenneth Han
Office of Student Health
Sheila Hedayati
Executive Director EH&S
Karla Hill
Director, Occupational Health
Here is the process to upload into the PnC portal or start your Declination Process below:
Influenza vaccine Upload process 2023-2024
Influenza Vaccine Declination Process 2023-2024
COVID-19 Protocols at a Glance
COVID-19 PROTOCOLS
The chart below applies to:
- Students: Those living, learning, or working on campus at a UCR property at least one day a week.
- Employees: Staff, faculty, instructors, or third-party personnel working or teaching on campus or at a UCR property at least one day a week.
- Visitors and Guests: Members of the general public visiting campus or UCR facilities or attending events on campus; guests invited to campus for events or meetings.
For more information on each protocol, click the link in the left-hand column.
|
Protocol |
Students |
Employees |
Guests & Visitors |
|
New policy: Confirm you are up to date or opt-out via the student patient portal. |
New policy: confirm you are up to date or opt out via the employee patient portal. |
Not required. |
|
|
Recommended indoors.
Optional outdoors. |
Recommended indoors.
Optional outdoors. |
Recommended indoors.
Optional Outdoors. |
|
|
Not required (but still available). |
Not required (but still available). |
Not required.
|
|
|
Report to student patient portal. |
Report to COVID Screening Check. |
Not required. |
|
|
(following positive test) |
Required (with possible early release based on improvement of symptoms). |
Required (with possible early release based on improvement of symptoms). |
|
|
Quarantine/ Close contact (following exposure) |
Not required if asymptomatic. |
Not required if asymptomatic. |
|
|
Not required. |
Follow Notice of Workplace COVID-19 Outbreak Notice – that will include testing and masking. |
Not required. |
Note: Those who work in UCR Health clinic areas (including medical, dental, and nursing clinics) must follow COVID-19 protocols for healthcare settings. However, those who work in both clinical and non-clinical settings must also comply with these campus protocols when outside of the health care environment.