Wishing you a wonderful and safe holiday break
Office of the Administrative Vice Chancellor
Dear Bruin Community:
The holiday season is upon us and with that brings our holiday winter closure scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020 through Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021. I hope everyone is able to get some much-deserved time to relax.
During this occasion, we tend to slow our schedules, enjoy the company of those we love, reflect on the things that made the year meaningful and look ahead to the future with a sense of hope and optimism. These things can be part of our break, but they’ll just be a little different this time around.
As such, it is important to be mindful of the following:
- Travel is currently restricted, as per the new California Department of Public Health Travel Advisory.
- Gathering with those outside your immediate household is prohibited as stated in new regional stay home orders.
- Faculty, staff and students who travel outside of California during the break are strongly encouraged to quarantine for 14 days after returning home and should not return to on-site work or in-person classes until after that period. In-state travel can also be of high risk if it includes gathering in or being exposed to large groups. Testing upon return home is strongly recommended.
- UCLA students in on-campus housing have the option to remain in their assigned rooms during the campus winter closure. UCLA Dining Services is offering a supplemental meal plan for those who are interested.
- Beginning on Jan. 3, all on-campus residents, regardless of travel activity, will enter a period of isolation and sequestration until they receive two negative COVID-19 test results. Details can be reviewed on the UCLA Housing website.
- Students who have traveled out of state are also being advised to sequester for an additional week when they return, consistent with public health guidelines.
- All in-person classes will be conducted remotely for the first week to allow for students and faculty who return from any travel time to obtain COVID-19 tests and sequester for at least one week.
- Remember the basics: Wear a face covering over your mouth and nose, maintain a minimum of 6 feet of distance between yourself and others, avoid crowded areas and wash your hands frequently.
- Add the new CA Notify app to your smartphone to learn about possible exposure to the virus.
- If you think you may have been in contact with someone with COVID-19, feel ill or exhibit any symptoms of COVID-19, you should isolate yourself, avoid contact with others and seek medical attention.
- Students with COVID-19–related concerns can reach an Ashe Center clinician during winter break by visiting the Student Health Patient Portal, or by calling the Ashe Center COVID-19 Hotline at (310) 206-6217 from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. daily (except Dec. 25 and Jan. 1). Calls received after hours will be answered the following day. Testing will be available one day per week on campus (details below). Students can also get tested directly through L.A. County, or by obtaining a referral to an outside facility.
- Faculty and staff should call the UCLA COVID Call Center at (310) 267-3300, which will be open daily from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. Calls received after hours will be answered the following day.
- Essential visitors, research participants and third-party contract workers who will be present on campus during the winter closure should consult with their primary care physicians.
- In addition, COVID-19 surveillance testing will be available — although not required — for those who remain on campus during the winter closure. Testing dates are Monday, Dec. 21 and Monday, Dec. 28 from 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. in Switzer Plaza (formerly the UCLA Health Sciences Plaza). Registration for testing is available via SummerBio.
Our decisions and actions over the upcoming weeks and months will have a significant effect on our health and that of our families, friends and communities. The short-term sacrifices we make now can and will have a lasting long-term impact.
The care and resiliency you’ve already shown as individuals and as a community this year cannot be overstated, and your efforts to support and care for one another through a tumultuous 2020 have been nothing short of spectacular.
As Bruins, we are part of a strong institution that fills me with pride. Each and every one of you makes UCLA remarkable and I thank you for that. Wishing you and yours a restful, happy and, most importantly, safe holiday season!
Sincerely,
Michael J. Beck
Administrative Vice Chancellor
