December 27, 2021
Dear Students,
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This memo is a follow-up to the Chancellor’s December 22, 2021 message announcing that instruction will be remote for the first two weeks of Winter Quarter 2022. In this memo, we describe logistics related to testing, vaccination and masking that will facilitate an orderly return to campus and start of instruction. 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 of students to campus and to ramp up our testing capacity. Our overarching goals are to continue to mitigate COVID-19 transmission, now in the setting of the Omicron variant, and to do everything we can to ensure a resumption of in-person instruction as soon as possible. We emphasize that 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 for 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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COVID-19 Testing
- All students who will be on campus during Winter Quarter are required to obtain a campus COVID-19 test at the beginning of the quarter.
- Students should attempt to return to Santa Barbara no later than January 12, 2022, and should obtain a test on campus as soon as possible after their return to the area.
- Weekly testing thereafter is REQUIRED for students who have not obtained a COVID-19 booster vaccination, and for anyone who is unvaccinated due to an approved medical or religious exemption to the COVID-19 vaccine.
- Testing is available to the campus community without charge. Appointments can be made at the Student Health Patient Portal. There are two options for testing: in person by appointment, or by specimen drop off, which requires picking up a test kit and making an appointment to drop it off.
- Testing requirements will be enforced through the COVID-19 Clearance Badges produced by the UCSB Daily COVID-19 Screening Survey. After the initial two-week testing period, the Clearance Badges will display the purple “Not Cleared to Be On Campus” message if the testing requirements are not met.
- During the first two weeks of the quarter, students are encouraged to study remotely in whatever environment (home/campus) that is most suitable for them. We project this will facilitate a staggered return of students to campus and the local area.
- Anyone who receives a positive COVID-19 test result on campus will be contacted by the UCSB COVID-19 Medical Team to assist with isolation and identifying 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.
- Booster vaccines are REQUIRED for all eligible students who do not have previously approved medical or religious exemptions as part of UC’s SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Program policy, which mandates vaccination against COVID-19, including boosters.
- All booster vaccinations must be completed by January 31, 2022.
- Currently, 84% 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% of our campus population.
- Uploading of booster shot records is not necessary at this time. We will individually contact anyone missing a booster record in January.
- All eligible students are strongly encouraged to receive their required booster vaccination as soon as possible - ideally, over the break and prior to returning to campus.
- 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.
- Previously vaccinated students who have not received a booster vaccination on return to campus must undergo weekly COVID-19 testing until they get a booster.
- Everyone is also REQUIRED to obtain a flu vaccination.
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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, faculty, and staff.
- 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.
- Researchers in shared spaces should continue to wear masks and space themselves when feasible.
- 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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