email : Webview : Revised Covid-19 Public Health Order and Enforcement

Dear Students:

As many of you are aware, this week Governor Gavin Newsom lifted the Regional Stay Home Order that had been in place across most of the state since early December. It is encouraging to know that COVID case rates across the state are beginning to improve; however, in order to prevent another surge in cases, it is vitally important that we all continue to follow procedures that we know to be effective in slowing the spread of COVID-19: wearing a mask, maintaining physical distance from others, and limiting gatherings. In response to Santa Barbara County being moved back to the purple tier – the most restrictive tier due to widespread virus activity – the county Public Health Department has issued a revised health order.

Please note the highlights of the Revised Public Health Order:

There is no change to the guidance on higher education (no indoor lectures except small labs). Courses and student services continue to be delivered remotely.
Travel restrictions are lifted.
Some small gatherings are now allowed; however the gatherings must be outdoors only, include members of no more than three households, and masks and physical distancing are required.

In order to enforce the health order, beginning this weekend, the Santa Barbara Sheriff's Office will be issuing fines for party hosts under county ordinance 51-4. The first offense is a $100 fine, second offense is $200, and third and all subsequent offenses will incur a $500 fine. Anyone interpreted as hosting a party may be fined. Additionally, repeated or egregious reports to the University regarding gatherings that do not follow COVID guidelines may result in either individual or organizational conduct charges.

COVID-19 activity has been particularly high in Isla Vista in recent weeks. Despite the county’s permission of small, outdoor gatherings of no more than three households (with masks and physical distancing), we still encourage you to avoid all gatherings as much as possible in order to minimize the risk of spreading the virus.

Reporting COVID-19 Violations

Many reports have been received through the campus reporting form for COVID Health Order violations since its inception mid-August of last year. A big thank you is due to the diligent Isla Vista residents who have reported issues. Please note: for an immediate response to an in-progress situation, please first call Isla Vista Foot Patrol (805-681-4179) and then report to UCSB.

Report Violation of COVID-19 Orders to UCSB

How UC Santa Barbara Responds

150 Letters delivered directly to residences reported for alleged violations

Nearly 100 Individual contacts made with students identified in reports – no repeat reports after University contact

>20 Referrals of individuals and organizations to the Office of Student Conduct due to egregious and/or repeat offenses

Repeat Offenses There have been very few reports of repeat offenses after residences, individuals, and/or organizations have received a warning.

*In those few cases of repeat offenses, the university has made outreach to the county, property manager, and made referrals to the Office of Student Conduct where possible.

Due to student privacy laws, it is not possible to respond to each report with information about specific outcomes. However, we follow up with the residence and/or the named students for every report. For more information about how we follow up, visit our response dashboard.

COVID-19 Violation Response Dashboard

Mandatory Weekly COVID-19 Testing Information

Over 2,500 UCSB students are required to complete weekly asymptomatic testing. You are one of these students if:

You are an undergraduate living in University-owned housing,
You currently work or conduct research on campus (in person),
You attend an in-person winter ‘21 class.

Testing through Student Health is provided at no cost, regardless of insurance, for all students. Compliance with the mandatory testing requirement is tracked and the University will follow up with students who are found to be out of compliance. For more information about mandatory testing, see UCSB’s COVID Testing Website.

Schedule No-Charge Test at UCSB Student Health

Not All Masks Are Created Equal

Finally, as more contagious strains of COVID-19 begin to proliferate in the United States, it is critically important that we all wear a mask when we are away from our residence or near anyone who we do not live with. As a reminder, campus is closed, but if you are currently going to campus for any reason, you must wear a mask at all times. Indeed, we are increasingly seeing suggestions from health experts to double mask, if possible. Any mask is better than no mask, but some masks are better than others. For more information about the comparative effectiveness of different masks see the graphic below.

All masks significantly reduce COVID-19 transmission when worn properly. A study found that simple modifications such as looping your ear ties, adding a metal nose pin, and/or adding some type of modification for a tighter fit increased the efficiency. The graphic shows nine mask styles. The least effective (two stars) is a single-layer woven gaiter. Average effectiveness (three stars) styles include cotton bandanas and single-layer woven polyester/nylon and 2-layer woven cotton with insert. Better masks (four stars) include medical procedure masks. And the best masks (5 stars) include medical procedure masks with tied ear loops and tucked in side pleats, medical procedure masks with a claws type hair clip to pull slack of the ear loops behind the neck, and 2-layer woven nylon masks.

We understand that many of us are experiencing varying degrees of pandemic fatigue. We are ready to resume our normal lives and routines, to return to campus, and to hug family and friends. With the arrival of the vaccine, we are optimistic that the end of stringent public health orders is in sight, but it is important to continue to follow COVID-19 protocols consistently in order to keep ourselves and our community safe while we wait for everyone to have the opportunity to be vaccinated. We appreciate all of you who have continued to stay home, wear masks, and maintain physical distance. If you have become less diligent in your precautions, we implore you to recommit yourself to them. We look forward to the day when we can safely welcome all of you back to campus.

Take care and be well,

Margaret Klawunn, Ph.D.
Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs

Vejas Skripkus, M.D.
Executive Director, Student Health Service & University Physician

Katya Armistead, Ed.D.
Assistant Vice Chancellor & Dean of Student Life

Sharleen O'Brien, Psy.D.
Associate Dean & Director, Health & Wellness

Suzanne Perkin, M.Ed.
Associate Dean of Student Life

Joaquin Becerra, M.A.
Assistant Dean & Director, Office of Student Conduct

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Student Life | 2260 SRB | University of California
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