On Monday, state health officials announced that all Californians will be required to wear masks when indoors at public places starting Dec. 15 and ending Jan. 15, citing an increase in COVID-19 case rates throughout the state following the Thanksgiving holiday. In addition to masking, the state will now require those without proof of vaccination who are attending events with more than 1,000 people to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test within one day. The state also recommends those who travel into or out of California to get tested for COVID-19 within three to five days.
UC San Diego has required masking indoors, regardless of vaccination status and with limited exceptions, throughout the past 20 months. The campus policy for face coverings will remain in effect, unchanged, until further notice.
Based upon an abundance of caution as well as the state’s new mandate and growing case rates in San Diego County, in-person indoor gatherings on UC San Diego premises should not serve food or drink until the statewide mandate expires. Events with more than 1,000 participants will require proof of a negative COVID-19 test within 24 hours. Students and employees who travel during the holiday break will be required to complete a COVID-19 test before returning to in-person activities on UC San Diego premises.
Get Vaccinated and Boosted
Getting vaccinated and boosted reduces the risks of getting infected, of transmitting disease, and of having severe disease complications if you do become infected.
Appointments for Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines and vaccine boosters are now available for all eligible students and campus and health employees at the Price Center on campus and at drive-up locations at our La Jolla and Hillcrest Medical Centers.
To qualify for a COVID-19 vaccine booster, it must be six months or more since you completed your two-dose regimen of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or two months or more since you completed your one-dose regimen of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
Stay Vigilant
While vaccination is critical and strategies such as maintaining a safe distance from others in large crowds is helpful in preventing the spread of the virus, wearing a mask in public settings — especially those indoors — adds substantial additional protection from infection.
The rise in case rates throughout the country and developing information about the highly transmissible Omicron variant reminds us that we need to stay vigilant in our day-to-day activities. Complete the daily symptom self-screening and follow all safety requirements. Unvaccinated individuals should test twice weekly. Vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals should test whenever they have symptoms compatible with SARS CoV-2 infection and when there are positive wastewater signals in buildings where they have used the restroom. Check the Potential Exposure Locations chart on the COVID-19 Daily Dashboard for the most up-to-date information.
