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Coronavirus & COVID-19

Educational institutions, like UCLA, are subject to these orders but are considered essential businesses. This means that UCLA must suspend all on-campus operations with the exception of those that are essential and cannot be conducted remotely.

On March 19, 2020, Governor Newsom issued Executive Order N-33-20. Since that time, the State of CaliforniaLos Angeles County and the City of Los Angeles have issued and continue to periodically update and modify additional orders.

Instead of providing a specific date when the orders will be lifted, LA City and LA County have provided a strategy for lifting the restrictions and requirements in stages. 

City of Los Angeles stages for COVID-19 response and recovery:

-Stage I: The implementation of the initial Safer at Home order was crisis management mode, focused on saving as many lives as possible.

-Stage II: The City and County of Los Angeles will make slow and gradual adjustments for a safer return to work and other activities. Physical distancing, face coverings and other hygiene and safety measures will remain in place and will be even more important.

-Stages III & IV: The City will transition to a state of monitoring, and aim to lift additional restrictions.

-Stage IV: The City will be fully reopened and turn attention to reimagining itself in a post-COVID-19 world.

UCLA is following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LACDPH) guidance.

If necessary, local response to an increase in COVID-19 cases or pandemic would be directed by federal, state, and local health agencies.

The University would be expected to act in accordance with all applicable public health directives. The University’s guidance, policies, and regulations cannot conflict with public health orders for the control of the COVID-19 pandemic.

CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies), especially in areas of significant community-based transmission.

CDC also advises the use of simple cloth face coverings to slow the spread of the virus and help people who may have the virus and do not know it from transmitting it to others. Cloth face coverings made at home from common materials at low cost can be used as an additional, voluntary public health measure.

Cloth face coverings should not be worn by young children under age 2 or by anyone who has trouble breathing, is unconscious, incapacitated or would be unable to remove the mask without assistance.

Per current CDC guidance, the recommended cloth face coverings do not include surgical masks or N-95 respirators, which are critical supplies that must continue to be reserved for healthcare workers and other medical first responders.

You do not need to self-quarantine if you were in contact with someone who is sick but has not been confirmed to have COVID-19.

There may, however, be circumstances that may justify further consideration by UCLA Occupational Health.

If an individual tests positive for COVID-19, close contacts will need to self-quarantine for 14 days from the date of contact. In a non-healthcare setting, close contacts are defined as individuals who were within 6 feet of the person for more than 10 minutes when the person was symptomatic. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health or UCLA Occupational Health will contact all individuals who are identified as close contact and provide instructions.

Managers and supervisors should familiarize themselves with these FAQs, consider telecommute options for employees required to self-quarantine and review your department's business continuity plan.

As part of any planning effort, managers and supervisors should make information available to employees concerning the common-sense steps employees can take to protect themselves and help prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace. This information can be found on the CDC’s website About 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).

Managers and supervisors should also keep themselves informed of the latest public health information released by the CDC. It would also be prudent for managers and supervisors to determine in advance whether it would be feasible for employees to work from home when they are not sick themselves but need to stay away from the workplace because of the need to care for a sick family member.

In addition to physical distancing and face covering requirements, indoor air ventilation cycles are being increased where feasible.