Universal indoor masking at UCLA strongly recommended Jan. 3–13
Infectious Diseases Management Team
What you need to know:
- Universal indoor masking at UCLA is strongly recommended to mitigate anticipated spike in new cases from Bruins returning from winter break travel and gatherings.
- This recommendation is intended to reduce viral spread among the Bruin community and help UCLA avoid dramatic impacts to teaching, research and campus operations.
- COVID-19 testing is also strongly encouraged upon return from winter break.
Please note: Those who work in UCLA Health clinical areas (including medical, dental and nursing clinics) will receive communications directly from UCLA Health regarding COVID-19 protocols.
UCLA PreK-12 (including early care and education centers, UCLA Lab School and Geffen Academy) will communicate separately regarding guidance on COVID-19 protocols.
Dear Bruin Community:
We hope you enjoyed a restful winter break and are ready for another incredible quarter here at UCLA. Over the winter break, our Infectious Diseases Management Team continued to monitor local COVID-19 case rates. While cases are generally decreasing locally, there are still more than 2,000 new cases reported each day in L.A. County and the numbers around the nation and across the world continue to raise concerns. Additionally, local hospitalizations in December 2022 surpassed numbers seen that same time last year.
Public health officials are concerned that traveling and gathering during the holidays will result in increased transmission. In light of this, and our desire to facilitate a safer return to campus, universal indoor masking is strongly recommended at UCLA from Jan. 3 through Jan. 13, 2023. The intent of this recommendation is to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and help UCLA avoid dramatic impacts to teaching, research and other campus operations following winter gatherings and travel. Indoor masking continues to be a responsible choice to reduce transmission of COVID-19 as well as influenza and RSV, which are also prevalent in our community.
Upgraded masks (i.e. surgical, KN95, N95) will continue to be available to UCLA 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).
Testing is also strongly recommended upon or prior to returning to campus. On-campus residents are encouraged to test upon return to the Hill and then again 3–5 days later. PCR tests continue to be available at no charge to UCLA students, staff and faculty through UCLA’s campus testing program.
We appreciate your continued cooperation and understanding as we endeavor to mitigate the spread of this virus. We wish you a wonderful and healthy start to 2023.
Sincerely,
Tim Groeling
Professor, Department of Communication
Co-chair, Infectious Diseases Management Team
Michelle A. Sityar
Chief of Staff, Administration
Co-chair, Infectious Diseases Management Team
