You might have heard that the Governor is ending the COVID-19 state of emergency on Feb. 28. This signals a new phase of response to the pandemic and ends most of the statewide public health orders and restrictions that have been in place and evolved over the past three years. Going forward, UC's efforts related to prevention of COVID-19 or other disease outbreaks will focus on public health education, preparedness and outreach.
For UC ANR workplaces and programming, this will not result in noticeable change from how we have been operating for the past several months. Here is what you need to know:
- Most importantly, employees are still advised to stay home if they have symptoms of any infectious illness or are feeling sick.
- If you do test positive for COVID-19, we still need you to report that positive test, so we can evaluate the conditions, advise on when you can return to work, and determine if other employees or the clientele that we work with may have been exposed.
- The best way to report symptoms or positive test results is by using the symptom screening report survey (http://ucanr.edu/symptomscreening).
While public health orders and other emergency measures are ending, workplace safety rules to prevent disease transmission remain in effect. Masks and testing are not required in most cases, but we still must make masks available and provide access to testing if there are workplace exposures. Investigation of positive COVID-19 cases is required to determine if additional exposures may have occurred at work. Employees must receive COVID-19 prevention training. The COVID-19 prevention plans that were developed for each ANR location must be maintained. The UC vaccination programs policy remains in effect, meaning that employees are required to have an initial series of COVID-19 vaccination, or receive an exemption. Employees are also urged to maintain recommended booster vaccinations, or opt out.
This has been a long journey over the past three years to keep ourselves, our families and our co-workers as safe as possible. Thank you for your efforts and understanding over this time and let's look forward to a new chapter ahead.
Brian Oatman
Director, Risk & Safety Services