December 29, 2021
Dear Staff and Faculty Colleagues,
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In this memo, we describe logistics related to testing, vaccination, and masking that will facilitate an orderly return to campus. The details have been developed by the medical team in close consultation with the COVID-19 Response Working Group and campus leadership.
Our immediate goals are to manage the return to campus and to ramp up our testing capacity after the holidays. Our overarching goals are to continue to mitigate COVID-19 transmission, now in the setting of the Omicron variant, and to assist staff and faculty in resuming in-person instruction as soon as possible. A similar message with updated testing, booster, and masking requirements has been sent to all students.
We emphasize that our knowledge about the Omicron variant is evolving rapidly, and we are working closely with public health, infectious disease, and epidemiology experts from other UC campuses to continually refine these mitigation strategies. We will need to remain both vigilant and adaptive in our approach to sustaining the educational mission of our campus while also mitigating virus transmission. A successful Winter Quarter depends on everyone taking extra precautions now, and continuing to exercise vigilance throughout the quarter.
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Returning to Campus
All staff and faculty whose current job duties require them to be on campus during Winter Quarter are strongly encouraged to obtain a campus COVID-19 test as soon as possible after returning to campus at the beginning of the quarter.
- Testing is available to the campus community without charge. Please pick up a UCSB COVID-19 test kit at Loma Pelona any weekday starting 1/3/2022 between 8:30 am and 4:45 pm. You will then use the kit to provide your saliva sample (at home or at some other convenient location for you) and return it to Loma Pelona at your appointment time, which must be within 24 hours of making the sample. Appointments can be made through the Student Health Patient Portal.
- Anyone who receives a positive COVID-19 test result on campus will be contacted by the UCSB COVID-19 Medical Team to identify and inform any close contacts. See more information in the Health & Wellbeing section of the UCSB COVID-19 Information webpages.
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Booster Vaccination
There is strong evidence that infection leading to asymptomatic, mild, or moderate illness can occur from the Omicron variant in persons who have previously received two doses of the mRNA vaccines (Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna) or the single-dose J&J/Jannsen vaccine. There is also a significant risk for reinfection by the Omicron variant for those previously infected with other variants of the virus who are not vaccinated. Fortunately, recent studies demonstrate that a third “booster” vaccination with either the Pfizer or Moderna mRNA vaccine can provide very high levels of protective antibodies against the Omicron variant. Thus, the single most effective strategy at this time for mitigating transmission is widespread booster vaccination. The CDC has recommended a booster beginning six months after completing the original vaccination series with either Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna, and two months after the J&J/Jannsen vaccine.
- All eligible staff and faculty are strongly encouraged to receive their required booster vaccination as soon as possible. Booster vaccines are required for all eligible staff, faculty, and students, as part of UC’s SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Program policy, in order to access UC facilities. Individuals with previously approved medical or religious exemptions are also exempt from booster requirements.
- Currently, 84 percent of the campus community is already eligible for a booster and will be tracked for compliance with the California state reporting system. We will continue to track eligibility for the remaining 16 percent of our campus population.
- Booster doses are widely available at pharmacies and medical clinics. Boosters will also be available in Isla Vista from the Santa Barbara County Department of Public Health at Embarcadero Hall January 10 - 28 on weekdays from 9 am - 5 pm, with appointments available through the MyTurn system.
- Influenza vaccinations are also required, unless you attest that you have read the educational information and decline, AND agree to mask through the end of flu season.
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Masking
It is important to acknowledge that during the Fall Quarter, vaccination combined with indoor masking was exceptionally effective at mitigating campus transmission. There were no cases of any variant of COVID-19 associated with any regular classroom activities. Thus, it is essential that we continue with our very high level of compliance in the use of high-quality masks when indoors.
- The campus will continue to provide high-quality masks to all students, staff, and faculty.
- Department representatives can pick up face masks from the Campus Bookstore loading dock during business hours, located on the west side of the UCEN. No request form is needed.
- The campus mask mandate does not distinguish “shared” or “public” spaces from other locations. All indoor spaces on campus, including research spaces, are subject to the masking requirement, with the exception of individual residences in campus housing, dining halls while eating, or individual offices with one person with the door closed.
- Everyone is encouraged to wear a mask outdoors in crowded settings when on campus
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General questions can be directed to the UCSB COVID-19 Call Center by email at ucsb-covid19@ucsb.edu, or by phone after 1/3/2022 at (805) 893-3113 weekdays from 8 am to 4 pm.
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Sincerely,
Scott Grafton, M.D., Ph.D.
Campus COVID-Mitigation Program Manager
Stuart Feinstein
COVID-19 Response Team Coordinator and Professor of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology
Vejas Skripkus, M.D.
Executive Director of Student Health and Campus Physician
Mary Ferris, M.D.
Campus COVID-19 Clinical Advisor
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