A safer spring break is our collective responsibility
COVID-19 Response and Recovery Task Force
Dear Bruin Community:
Spring break is traditionally a time for many of us to get away and unwind; however, with the pandemic still lingering, we urge all students, faculty and staff to refrain from traveling and gathering with individuals outside your household.
The recent limited easing of COVID-19 restrictions comes with a great deal of responsibility and we must do everything we can to be successful in our efforts to slow the spread of the virus, especially now as spring break approaches. With the strides we have all made in recent weeks to decrease the rate of COVID-19 transmission, reduce the pressure on our hospitals, and promptly schedule and receive vaccinations — if eligible and as supplies allow — now is the time to stay the course when it comes to following health and safety protocols. We must do everything we can to further reduce these numbers so that, hopefully, we can open up more of the campus in the weeks and months to come.
As you plan for spring break, please remember that the decisions you make can have a substantial impact on the health and safety of your friends, family, neighbors and the UCLA community — for better or worse.
If you must travel, please consider the following guidance:
- If eligible, you are strongly encouraged to schedule an appointment to receive a COVID-19 vaccination. UCLA faculty and staff, including student workers, are now eligible for vaccinations, as supplies permit, and UCLA Health is reaching out to specific prioritized groups each week. This process will take time, and we appreciate your patience. If you are able to book an earlier appointment through an alternate process, such as California’s My Turn, you are urged to do so. Starting March 15, healthcare providers may use their clinical judgement to vaccinate Californians ages 16-64 deemed to be at the highest risk for morbidity and mortality from COVID-19 as a direct result of certain health conditions. This opens up another larger group that will be eligible for vaccination, which is good news, but will also introduce more demand for a limited supply of vaccines.
- Public health officials continue to strongly discourage travel due to the existence of new and emerging strains of COVID-19 and the risk of contracting or transmitting the virus during or after transit. The current California travel advisory discourages all non-essential travel and recommends a 10-day quarantine period for all individuals returning from non-essential travel out of the state. UCLA students in on-campus housing have the option to remain in their assigned rooms during spring break, and Bruin Cafe will open for students to purchase food via EasyPay or credit card.
- Information for on-campus residents who must travel — including instructions for testing, quarantining and ordering meals upon returning to campus — is available on the Housing website.
As a reminder, we must continue to do our part to follow public health guidelines and slow the spread of COVID-19.
Remember the basics:
- Wear a facial covering over your mouth and nose, maintain a minimum of 6 feet of distance between yourself and others, avoid large gatherings and wash your hands frequently.
- For those living, learning or working in UCLA facilities, participation in weekly COVID-19 testing and the daily symptom monitoring survey is still required, even if you have been vaccinated.
- Add the CA Notify app to your smartphone to learn about possible exposure to the virus.
- If you feel ill or exhibit any symptoms of COVID-19, isolate yourself and avoid socializing.
As a reminder, you can find general information about the vaccines on UCLA Health’s COVID-19 vaccine information hub and visit UCLA’s COVID-19 resources website and BruinSafe Online for updates about our campus response to the pandemic. If you have additional questions, concerns or thoughts about UCLA’s COVID-19 response, please write to COVID19@ucla.edu.
Sincerely,
Michael J. Beck
Administrative Vice Chancellor
Co-chair, COVID-19 Response and Recovery Task Force
Michael Meranze
Immediate Past Chair, UCLA Academic Senate
Professor of History
Co-chair, COVID-19 Response and Recovery Task Force
