TO: All employees
FR: Kendall Newman, Operations Manager for Risk Management and Safety Services on behalf of COVID Monitoring and Compliance Team
Last week, we notified you of changes to the isolation and quarantine guidelines adopted by Sonoma County Public Health. Cal-OSHA has adopted similar workplace safety standards that will align with these guidelines beginning January 14, 2022.
Under the new public health orders, if you receive a positive rapid COVID-19 test or a positive PCR test, you will isolate in the following ways based upon your symptoms:
- If you are asymptomatic (no symptoms) with a positive rapid or PCR test, you will need to isolate for five days and produce a negative COVID-19 rapid test taken on or after day five. A rapid antigen test is preferred. If you are unable to produce a negative test on or after day five, you will need to isolate for 10 days.
- If you are experiencing symptoms that begin to resolve themselves, you will need to isolate for five days and produce a negative COVID-19 rapid test taken on day five. Your isolation would end on day six.
- If you are experiencing symptoms that remain consistent or worsen, or if the rapid test on day five or later is positive, a 10-day isolation window is required from the onset of symptoms.
The COVID Monitoring Team supports all employees through the isolation process and provides information and necessary documentation for return to work once the isolation period has been completed. Employees may not self-clear or return to on-campus work without such approval from the COVID Monitoring Team.
Employees subject to quarantine orders must quarantine for 10 days from the exposure date. You may be released from quarantine with a negative PCR test taken on day five or later and must be symptom free. If you are unable to produce a negative test on or after day five, you will need to quarantine for ten days.
Employees who are experiencing symptoms related to COVID-19 are still required to provide a negative PCR test in order to return to campus. Employees should contact covid.monitoring@sonoma.edu to discuss complexities. Sonoma State does not accept negative rapid test results for clearance to return to work in situations such as exposure or reported symptoms.
The COVID Monitoring Team is also exploring options to further help streamline this process for employees, which may include mail-in PCR testing and rapid test kits available for employees who are isolating. We hope to have information and services available soon and will keep you updated.
Stay safe and well.