Dear Sagehens,
How is your spring 2024 semester going? I hope it is off to a strong start.
Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has issued new guidance regarding isolation for individuals with COVID-19. The pertinent details that will impact our updated policy for Pomona students are:
Isolation period: The term "isolation period" refers to the following:
- Individuals with COVID-19 with symptoms: Individuals who have COVID-19 and are experiencing symptoms shall stay home away from others until fever free for 24 hours without using fever-reducing medication AND other symptoms are mild and improving. Masks are required to leave isolation before 10 days from when symptoms began or the date of their first positive test, when around other people. You can remove your mask sooner if you have two sequential negative tests at least one day apart.
- Individuals with COVID-19 without symptoms: Individuals who have COVID-19 and are not experiencing symptoms are not required to isolate provided they wear a well-fitting, high-quality respiratory mask whenever around other people. You can remove your mask sooner if you have two sequential negative tests at least one day apart.
With this in mind, Pomona students who are on campus must follow the requirements below:
- If you are symptomatic you are required to test within 24 hours – and you must test every 24 hours thereafter while you continue to be symptomatic. This is crucial to early identification of COVID-19 and keeping the campus safe.
- If you test positive for COVID-19 via an at-home (rapid) test, you must immediately email a photo of the positive test result to contact.tracers@claremont.edu and covidsupport@pomona.edu. Rapid test kits are available for pick-up during business hours at SHS and 24/7 at the Campus Safety Office (101 South Mills Ave). Please note that PCR tests are no longer available via vending machines on campus.
- If you test positive for COVID-19 via a rapid antigen test taken at Student Health Services (SHS), you will be notified via email as soon as the results from the lab come back (in this case you do not need to email a photo). Results of rapid tests given at SHS via an appointment will be viewable in your portal within an hour.
- Once the College is notified you have tested positive for COVID-19, you will be provided with isolation orders that inform you of your isolation room assignment and other details. Please pay close attention to the packing list that is provided with your isolation assignment so that you bring everything you need to your isolation room. You are required to isolate for one day.
- On day two if you do not have a fever (without the use of any fever-reducing medication for 24 hours) and are feeling better, in consultation with a contact tracer from Student Health Services (SHS) it will be determined whether you are ready for release from isolation.
- You must wear a mask from the day of your release until day 10 of your isolation timeline. In cases where the student doesn’t meet requirements for release, there will be daily follow up by the contact tracers until the necessary criteria for release from isolation are achieved.
We are implementing these new isolation guidelines in accordance with the county’s public health department and yet, we must want to highlight the importance of strict adherence to all policies in light of the increase in COVID-19 nationwide and in Los Angeles County, where flu activity also remains elevated.
You are always encouraged to wear a mask if you have any symptoms of COVID-19 or other illnesses that may be contagious. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask. Let’s be sure to take the necessary steps to remain healthy as a community.
Respectfully,
Dean Hinkson