Sept. 6, 2023
Dear Students:
As we head into the third week of Fall semester, many of you may have seen that COVID-19 cases on campus are on the rise again. This surge in positive cases is not uncommon, and exposure notifications, response, and isolation will continue to be in place with Cal/OSHA COVID Non-Emergency Standards.
Consequently, we want to take a moment and provide the following reminders to everyone about COVID-19 at CSUCI.
Feeling unwell? Have you been exposed to COVID-19?
If you are not feeling well and/or think you may have been exposed to COVID-19, get tested. Free testing is available Monday through Friday at the Environmental Health & Safety office, on Ventura Street, directly across from Manzanita Hall (next to the Facilities Services Work Center). Please ring the bell and wait for EH&S staff to come downstairs to assist you; do not enter the EH&S office or the Facilities Services Work Center if you are ill or seeking testing.
Stay Home
If you develop symptoms of COVID-19, even if your initial test is negative, stay home and re-test if symptoms persist.
Tested positive?
Be sure to isolate if you test positive and report your case to the Environmental Health & Safety office. Our COVID-19 case management team will provide guidance on when you are able to return to campus. Do not come to campus if you are ill or have tested positive.
Protect yourself and others
There has been no change to our masking plan, but masks are still highly recommended while indoors. Disposable face masks are available throughout the campus at these locations. For greater protection, use a KN95 or N95 mask.
Get Boosted
COVID-19 boosters are readily available and an updated booster will likely be available around mid-September – once it has received authorization. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will then issue recommendations on which groups of people can or should get vaccinated. Information about the new vaccine formula is available below.
What is this new vaccine formula?
- The updated booster shot is formulated to target XBB.1.5, an omicron subvariant.
- It is a monovalent vaccine, meaning it only targets one strain (the previous bivalent booster was formulated with the original strain and BA.4/BA.5).
Will this new vaccine protect against new variants?
- So far, data shows this booster will offer additional protection against severe disease and death for all currently circulating variants.
- Vaccine manufacturers share that they continue to test the updated booster on newer variants, including the newer omicron sub-variant BA.2.86.
- Early lab-based results published Wednesday in a press release from Massachusetts-based biotechnology company Moderna show the updated booster generated a nearly nine-fold increase in antibodies against BA.2.86. New York City-based pharmaceutical company Pfizer is likely to release similar data on its new vaccine soon.
Please visit the Ventura County Healthcare Agency website for information about COVID-19 vaccines and boosters, including local clinics.
As a reminder, please do not come to campus if you are feeling ill. Students are encouraged to communicate with their instructors if they are unable to attend class, and employees should communicate with their supervisors if they need to stay home from work.
We encourage you to stay up-to-date by visiting our campus COVID-19 webpages where you can report a positive case, find FAQs, and learn about available resources and services.
If you have questions, please reach out to csuci.news@csuci.edu so we can respond accordingly.