Indoor masking extended, weekly testing highly recommended
COVID-19 Response and Recovery Task Force
What you need to know:
- Indoor masking required until further notice
- Daily symptom monitoring required for students, faculty and staff
- Weekly COVID-19 testing strongly recommended for all as of June 15
Dear Bruin Community:
COVID-19 cases remain high in Los Angeles County and local hospitalization rates are increasing, and UCLA has seen an increase in staff and faculty cases this month. Masking continues to be an effective strategy in providing an extra layer of protection against the virus. While we continue to assess campus conditions and impacts as we transition to the summer quarter, our protocols will be as follows:
1. Indoor masking required until further notice
Indoor masking will continue for all students, staff, faculty, affiliates and visitors to the UCLA campus, regardless of vaccination status. This decision will be reevaluated when UCLA and LA County case numbers and test positivity rates, as well as other metrics, plateau or improve. Additionally, these decisions are contingent on LACDPH masking requirements. As a reminder, upgraded masks are available to students, faculty and staff — free of charge — at the UCLA Emergency PPE Supply Store, the John Wooden Center, residence hall front desks, the Student Activities Center and in Ackerman Union at the A-level information window (next to the post office). Please refer to the UCLA COVID-19 Table Summary of Recommendations and Requirements (PDF) for indoor masking requirements and associated narrow exceptions.
You are also strongly urged to wear a mask in off-campus indoor settings. In addition, off-campus indoor gatherings should be reconsidered if limited mask wearing is expected, such as where there is eating and drinking.
2. Daily symptom monitoring required for students, faculty and staff
Everyone living, learning or working on the UCLA campus or at other UCLA properties is still required to complete the UCLA Symptom Monitoring Online Survey before arriving, or each morning if living on campus. Those who are sick or present symptoms of COVID-19 must not come to campus for any reason other than a medical appointment.
Survey completion may also be required for invited guests and non-affiliates attending UCLA events, including those attending UCLA summer camps and conferences, at the discretion of the event organizer. In those cases, participants should be given advanced notice from the event organizer of the requirements, per the UCLA Protocol for Organized Events (PDF).
3. Weekly COVID-19 testing strongly recommended for all starting June 15
Weekly COVID-19 testing will be strongly recommended but no longer required for students, staff and faculty working, learning or participating regularly in programs on campus. These individuals will still have the option to test weekly through the campus vending machines and distribution centers if desired. Wastewater testing of on-campus housing facilities will continue until further notice.
The list of current campus protocols can be viewed on this helpful summary table (PDF).
Note: Those who work in UCLA Health clinical areas (including medical, dental and nursing clinics) must follow the COVID-19 protocols for health-care 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.
UCLA PreK-12 facilities (including early care and education centers, UCLA Lab School and Geffen Academy) will follow specific protocols that were previously communicated separately from the schools.
Thank you for your continued patience and understanding. We look forward to having a wonderful summer at UCLA and enjoying the vibrancy of the season.
Sincerely,
Michael J. Beck
Administrative Vice Chancellor
Co-chair, COVID-19 Response and Recovery Task Force
Megan McEvoy
Professor, Institute for Society and Genetics,
Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics
Co-chair, COVID-19 Response and Recovery Task Force
