COVID-19 Response Recommendations for Colleges and Universities
Last Updated: 3/21/2023
Disease Prevention Guidance
Face Covering
Face coverings continue to be strongly recommended in indoor public spaces per CDPH’s Guidance for the Use of Face Coverings particularly when CDC COVID-19 Community Levels are high.
Employers must follow Cal/OSHA COVID-19 Prevention Non-Emergency Regulations with regards to face coverings.
Ventilation
Administrators should review CDPH Interim Guidance for Ventilation, Filtration, and Air Quality in Indoor Environments on strategies for improving ventilation and air quality.
Staying Home When Sick and Get Tested
Staff and students should follow the strategy of “staying home when sick” see CDC’s Staying Home when You Are Sick for additional guidance.
Isolation
For both vaccinated and unvaccinated persons, follow the CDPH Isolation Guidance for those diagnosed with COVID-19 and Orange County Health Officer Orders as it relates to isolation.
Vaccination
OCHCA strongly recommends that all of those who are eligible receive COVID-19 vaccines both the primary series and the updated (bivalent) booster vaccines. To know if you are eligible for COVID-19 vaccines see CDC’s Stay Up to Date with COVID-19 Vaccines Including Boosters. To find information on how to access COVID-19 vaccines check out our Find a COVID-19 Vaccine page.
Employer Requirements
COVID-19 Prevention Non-Emergency Regulations were adopted by the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board on December 15, 2022. These regulations went into effect February 3, 2023 and will remain in effect for two years after the effective date, except for the recordkeeping subsections that will remain in effect for three years. These regulations apply to most workers in California who are not covered by the Aerosol Transmissible Diseases standard.
Disease Reporting
IHEs should report outbreaks or unusual occurrences of communicable disease per California Public Health Department Cal. Code Regs. tit. 17 § 2508 “…shall be the duty of anyone in charge of a public or private school, kindergarten, boarding school, or day nursery to report at once to the local health officer the presence or suspected presence of any of the communicable diseases...”.
Should you have any questions or need clarification or consultation, please contact us directly CCICOVIDSchools@ochca.com.
IHEs should:
- Adhere to CDPH guidelines
- Adhere to the OC Health Officer's Orders and Recommendations
- Adhere to CalOSHA COVID-19 Prevention Non-Emergency Regulations
- Notify Orange County Health Care Agency of unusual occurrences of disease
To contact Orange County Public Health Communicable Disease Department or if you are unsure where to report e-mail: CCICOVIDSchools@ochca.com or call 714-834-8180.
