Update on COVID-19 protocols for spring quarter
COVID-19 Response and Recovery Task Force
NOTE: Those who work in UCLA Health clinical areas (including medical, dental and nursing clinics) must follow the 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 healthcare environment.
UCLA PreK-12 facilities (including early care and education centers, UCLA Lab School and Geffen Academy) will follow specific protocols that will be communicated separately from the schools.
Dear Bruin Community:
UCLA will be moving forward with plans to further ease protocol requirements for vaccinated students, faculty and staff who study, live and work at UCLA and its various facilities. We will also continue to monitor cases on campus and adjust protocols where necessary. These plans were developed with guidance from medical and public health experts and are aligned with protocols already in effect at state and local levels.
Face coverings/masks
Beginning April 11, indoor masking will be highly recommended but no longer required for students, faculty and staff who are up to date on their COVID-19 vaccinations. This does not apply to spaces where masking is still required by LACDPH, including healthcare settings, public transit, etc. Please note it is still strongly recommended that individuals wear a well-fitting mask, regardless of vaccination status, when indoors and/or in crowded settings.
Those who are not up to date on COVID-19 vaccinations will continue to be required to wear a well-fitted mask indoors until further notice. Outdoor masking is optional for all.
Upgraded masks are available to the UCLA community free of charge and can be requested from the UCLA Emergency PPE Store.
COVID-19 weekly testing
(NOTE: This requirement has changed from what was previously communicated on March 11.)
Everyone working, learning or living on campus, regardless of vaccination status, is required to conduct weekly surveillance testing through the campus vending machines and distribution centers through April 30. This will allow for a cautious and staggered approach to lifting mitigations, and give public health experts an opportunity to measure the potential impacts of easing masking and other requirements at UCLA. NOTE: The 3x/week testing requirement for performing arts is being lifted and only 1x/week is now required.
Starting May 1, weekly testing will be recommended but no longer required for UCLA students, faculty and staff who are up to date on their COVID-19 vaccines, provided conditions on campus and in the community support such a decision. UCLA students, faculty and staff who are not up to date on their COVID-19 vaccines and are working, learning or living on campus or other UCLA property will be required to continue testing at least weekly until further notice.
As a reminder, those who are onsite less than once a week must participate in testing only on the days they are onsite.
Whether vaccinated or unvaccinated, individuals may be directed to test if they are considered a close contact of a positive case or if conditions change that warrant additional testing. All positive test results will be reported to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, as required.
You must still report any COVID-19 positive cases per the SOP for Reporting COVID-19 Cases at UCLA (PDF) and follow isolation and quarantine protocols per the UCLA Isolation and Quarantine Protocol (PDF).
Requirements for restaurants and certain public venues
The L.A. City Vaccine Verification Ordinance (PDF) remains in effect at this time, which requires proof of a negative test received within 72 hours (for those who are unable to provide proof of vaccine) upon entry to restaurants and certain public venues (e.g., museums, gyms, entertainment venues, etc.). See UCLA Protocol for Restaurants and Other Public Venues (PDF) for details.
Events at UCLA
Meetings and organized events
Beginning April 11, food and drink may be served during indoor meetings and organized events, although still discouraged. When attending an indoor event where food and drink are being served, the room should be oversized for the number of attendees and those who are not up to date on their COVID-19 vaccinations should maintain a six-foot distance from others when their mask is removed to eat or drink.
Vaccine verification or proof of negative test is recommended (but no longer required) for UCLA Organized events. Event organizers, if they choose, will have the option to conduct pre-entry checks by requesting to see participants’ symptom survey clearance certificate upon entry, so long as they do so for everyone in attendance. Organizers who plan to conduct pre-entry checks should make this clear to all guests in advance.
Indoor mega-events (1,000 or more attendees)
Beginning April 11, vaccine verification or proof of negative test will no longer be required upon entry to indoor mega events, in alignment with CDPH/LACDPH (PDF) Orders.
See UCLA Protocol for Organized Events (PDF) for details.
Daily symptom monitoring
All individuals who are living, learning and/or working on the UCLA campus — vaccinated and unvaccinated — must continue to honestly complete the UCLA Symptom Monitoring Online Survey prior to arriving on campus, or each morning if living on campus. Do not come to campus for any reason if you are sick, if symptoms are present or if you were exposed to someone with COVID-19 until clearance is obtained. Supervisors of staff, as well as department chairs for academic appointees must check the UCLA COVID-19 Clearance Portal daily to verify their direct reports are cleared to be onsite at a UCLA property.
Boosters
UCLA students, staff and faculty are required to have a COVID-19 booster shot, if eligible.
As we approach these changes, we do so while monitoring all subvariants and tracking local and campus case rates of COVID-19 to determine any possible adjustments to our plans. We recognize that there are a multitude of opinions regarding protocol changes in our community and at UCLA, and we encourage everyone to be respectful of the views, choices, comfort levels and needs of others as we navigate this stage of the pandemic.
Please continue to understand that mitigations are subject to change based on conditions at UCLA and/or within the community. We appreciate your continued understanding.
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
