Dear Pomona College Staff and Faculty,
We are writing to share some changes in the COVID-19 testing protocols for students, faculty, and staff.
The changes come at the recommendation of Dr. Prateek Jindal, assistant vice president for health and wellness, overseeing Student Health Services (SHS) for The Claremont Colleges.
Until further notice, weekly testing for students, including those with vaccination exemptions, is optional. The testing center at SHS will close February 1. However, every student will continue to have access to free COVID-19 testing at the six vending machines across the consortium. Students can use any vending machine on campus, regardless of which institution they attend.
Pomona College staff and faculty will continue to have access to voluntary weekly testing at the Hamilton Health Box clinic at 118 8th Street. Testing is from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on Tuesdays and from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Thursdays. Please note that faculty and staff with vaccination exemptions are no longer required to test or wear masks unless symptomatic.
As always, students, faculty and staff with COVID-19 symptoms are still required to test.
Three years have passed since the pandemic reached our region, and current case rates in Los Angeles County are low, according to the Department of Public Health. However, we will continue to be vigilant and prepared to respond to changes in the situation. We are grateful for our community’s care and cooperation in our multi-year response to COVID-19.
The message sent to students is included below.
Sincerely,
Melanie Wu, Vice President, and Dean of the College
Bob Robinson, Assistant Vice President – Facilities and Campus Services
INFORMATION SENT TO STUDENTS
Dear Pomona Students,
How are you? How is the semester going?
I am writing to provide an update on the COVID-19 testing requirements and other precautions. COVID-19 positive cases and related hospitalizations in Los Angeles County have decreased in recent few weeks and upon the advice of Dr.
Prateek Jindal, assistant vice president for health and wellness at SHS, Pomona has established the following policies for the spring 2023 semester:
- Weekly COVID-19 testing for all students, including those with vaccination exemptions, is optional until further notice.
- If you are symptomatic (even if you think it is just allergies, a cold or the flu), you are still required to test using a PCR test within 24-48 hours of symptom onset.
- If you are a close contact with someone with COVID-19, you are required to test using a PCR test as soon as you are aware and are required to test again in 3-5 days. You are also required to wear a mask for 10 days following the exposure.
Contact tracing and isolation policies/procedures will remain in place for students who test positive for COVID-19.
The Tranquada Testing Center will be closed effective February 1. PCR tests for COVID-19 will continue to be available to you through the vending machines. When taking a test, please follow the instructions carefully to ensure that your test results are connected to your SHS portal.
You are strongly encouraged to wear a high-quality, well-fitting masks over your nose and mouth while indoors and around others. This preventative measure is highly effective in protecting the mask-wearer. A limited number of masks are available at the Housing & Residential Life Office. Note: Students who have vaccination exemptions are strongly recommended but not required to wear a mask.
We will not be counting or carrying over missed tests from last semester. However, students who missed tests this semester will be notified.
It is our ongoing goal to keep the campus as safe as possible. I am grateful to all of you for the way that you have worked hard to stay safe and show concern for those around you. While we are adjusting our policies in response to medical advice, please be mindful that policies will continue to evolve, and we will be responsive to changing circumstances.
Stay well,
Dean Hinkson