Dear Santa Clara University Community, 

Welcome to the Week 8 edition of the Prepared SCU Weekly Roundup. In this short Friday digest, we share key information related to SCU’s response to COVID-19.

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COVID-19 Dashboard Update

This past week, the University had a 7-day test positivity rate of less than 0.1%, lower than the 1.4% positivity rate in Santa Clara County and 2.4% in California. Track our progress on our COVID-19 Dashboard.   

Indoor Face Coverings Mandate

It is critical that all individuals, regardless of vaccination status, wear face coverings indoors when not actively eating or drinking, including inside Benson Center and the Learning Commons. Face coverings must completely cover both the nose and mouth. 

• Face coverings are required when two or more people are meeting in a private room.
• Face coverings are required in study areas, open office cubicle environments, lobbies, lounges, meeting and break rooms, dining areas (when not actively eating/drinking), classrooms, residence halls (aside from personal residence rooms), and when exercising indoors, including at Malley Fitness Center.
• Face coverings are not required when alone in a private room with the door closed, such as an office or meeting room.

SCU faces potential fines from the County if we are not in compliance with this mandate. Let’s all do our part to keep our community safe and wear your mask. Please remind others of this requirement when you observe non-compliance.

Thanksgiving Travel Precautions

As you make plans to spend time with family and friends during the week of Thanksgiving, keep yourself, your family, and your community safe and healthy with these guidelines: 

• Get tested 1-3 days before you depart from SCU. If you test positive for COVID-19, isolate, as defined by the CDC, and do not travel.
• Wear a mask when using public transportation, in crowded outdoor settings, and in the company of others who are not fully vaccinated.
• Celebrate outdoors if possible. If you are celebrating indoors, consider opening windows to increase airflow.
• Stay at home if you have any COVID-19 symptoms. Encourage others to do the same.

Return to Campus After Thanksgiving

A majority of classes will meet in person after Thanksgiving break. Students should contact individual faculty members for additional details.

Test Kit Pickup and Locations

For Thanksgiving week, test kits will only be available on Monday, November 22 in Benson Center. Returned samples will be picked up in Benson Center at 3 PM on Monday. There will be no test kit distribution or collection for the rest of Thanksgiving week. Test kits will again be available at all residence halls and academic buildings on campus when students return after Thanksgiving break.

Testing

A reminder that all students living in residence halls and all students, faculty, and staff with an approved vaccine exemption are required to test weekly. Testing compliance will not be monitored for Thanksgiving week, but will resume the following week. Failure to test multiple weeks in a row can result in disciplinary action for students and employees.

Stay safe and well,

SCU COVID-19 Operations Team