The Coronavirus (COVID-19)

SDSU RequireS boosters for students, Employees

The California State University system announced on Dec. 22, 2021 that all students, faculty and staff in the system will be required to have a COVID-19 booster on file to access campus facilities and programs.

The requirement is effective at SDSU on Jan. 18, 2022, and students and employees will be required to have the COVID-19 booster on file with the university via HealtheConnect. Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to speak to their health care provider or locate booster availability online.

Eligible Population for a Booster Shot

All students, faculty and staff are highly encouraged to get a booster shot when they become eligible.

Those currently on an approved religious or medical exemption for the COVID-19 vaccine are still highly encouraged to get vaccinated and, when able, a booster.

Medical or Religious Exemptions 

The CSU COVID-19 vaccination requirement allows for students, faculty and staff to seek an exemption based on medical or religious grounds.

Information on submitting an exemption request can be found online.

COVID-19 Isolation & Quarantine Policy

In accordance with the San Diego County and Imperial County public health orders, San Diego State University updated on June 30, 2022 its isolation and quarantine policy for university students, faculty and staff on the Isolation & Quarantine section of the COVID-19 site.

• Earlier Communications

San Diego State University, in its decision-making regarding COVID-19, follows the guidance of the San Diego County Health and Human Services (HHSA), California Department of Public Health (CDPH), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Department of State.

 

GENERAL PREVENTION

Multi-Level Approach to Preventing the Spread of COVID-19

No single action by an organization or an individual can prevent the spread of COVID-19. Instead, prevention requires a combination of personal actions and other interventions. The best way to prevent the spread of COVID-19 includes getting vaccinated and practicing general prevention. San Diego State University has also implemented a number of interventions to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and urges all members of the campus community to be consistent in the general guidelines and policies detailed below.

Personal Responsibilities

• Get vaccinated and boosted
• Regular testing
• Wash your hands frequently
• Wear a facial covering
• Keep your distance when not vaccinated
• Avoid school, work when sick
• Report positive cases and exposures
• Quarantine and isolation

SDSU-Led Interventions

• Wastewater testing
• Enhanced building ventilation
• Enhanced cleaning
• Education and awareness activities
• Public health policy enforcement

Stay at Home if Sick

Cómo protegerse y proteger a los demás (En Español)

All SDSU students, faculty, staff, independent contractors and vendors must stay home if they are unwell. 

• Do not come to campus if you do not feel well. Remain home and monitor your symptoms and seek medical attention as needed.
• Contact your supervisor or faculty member to notify them of your absence.
• COVID-19 can result in mild to severe symptoms, and older adults and people who have severe underlying medical conditions, such as heart or lung disease or diabetes, seem to be at higher risk for developing more serious complications from COVID-19.

If you become sick, you should self-quarantine and monitor your health. If you receive a positive COVID-19 test, complete the COVID-19 Reporting Form.

If a student or employee who is accessing campus has tested positive for COVID-19, the university will provide notifications consistent with SDSU's COVID-19 case communications protocol. Personal information of students and employees will be protected.

Isolation and Quarantine Policy

In accordance with the San Diego County and Imperial County public health orders, San Diego State University updated its isolation and quarantine policy for all university community members.

What to Do When Sick

Anyone who is experiencing symptoms must remain home and avoid coming to campus for school, work and activities. Individuals should prioritize getting tested and follow policy and other public health guidelines if they test positive. Speak with your healthcare provider, a county testing site, or other provider to get tested.

If a person tests negative while exhibiting symptoms, they should remain home until they are well.  

En Español

Guides for what to do if you become sick and are experiencing symptoms or become sick and are not experiencing symptoms are available for download in Spanish.

Isolation 

In accordance with San Diego County and California Department of Public Health guidelines, all individuals who test positive for COVID-19 must isolate for at least five full days from their symptom onset date or from their asymptomatic test date.

At SDSU, and across campus, COVID Clearance Team members will continue to provide individual guidance on isolation timeframes, but will no longer require proof of negative testing or submission of an Isolation Exit Request Form.

Quarantine

In accordance with recent guidance from CDPH, the university’s quarantine policy is being updated. Individuals who have been exposed to someone who is COVID-positive and who are asymptomatic are not required to quarantine, regardless of their vaccination status. Individuals should seek testing, monitor for symptoms, and wear a facial covering. Individuals who have been exposed and are symptomatic are required to quarantine, seek testing, and report this symptomatic exposure to the university.

Facial Coverings

As of Friday, Oct. 7, 2022, SDSU’s facial covering policy has been removed. There is no longer a requirement to wear facial coverings in instructional settings.

SDSU will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation and communicate updates to the campus community as we approach that date.

Individuals may still voluntarily mask either when in non-required indoor settings or outdoors if they wish to do so.

Any individuals experiencing COVID-19-like symptoms must wear a facial covering if they are on campus to seek testing or as they exit campus to return home if they have onset of symptoms while on campus.

Additional Guidelines

Individuals are considered fully vaccinated for five months after their final dose of a two-dose COVID-19 vaccine or for two months after receiving the only dose of a single-dose vaccine, and without a booster. 

Practice Cough Etiquette, Good Hygiene and Cleanliness

Each of us has a personal responsibility to help stop the spread of any illness, including COVID-19. Three COVID-19 vaccines have been authorized for use in the United States, Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna mRNA and Johnson & Johnson. The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed. The following practices will help you avoid contracting the virus.

• Monitor your health daily, and take appropriate action (stay home, call your doctor) if you begin to feel sick. 
• Remember to always cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze or use the inside of your elbow.
• Throw used tissues in the trash.
• Regularly wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after blowing noses, coughing, or sneezing.
• If soap and water are not readily available, clean your hands with a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands and avoid personal contact with people who are sick.
• Avoid sharing food, cups or utensils.
• Avoid touching high-touch surfaces in public places and minimize handling cash, credit cards, and mobile or electronic devices.
• Custodial professionals will continue to disinfect high touch surfaces (i.e., door knobs, restroom fixtures, etc.).

COVID-19 Vaccine

Faculty, staff and students have choices when getting vaccinated, and are encouraged to reach out to the following to secure an appointment:

• Sign up for an appointment with one of the no-appointment County of San Diego vaccination sites, where vaccines are available each day without an appointment, or the Imperial County vaccination sites.
• Schedule an appointment at Student Health Services via HealtheConnect
• Contact your primary care physician or other healthcare provider.
• Vaccines are also available by appointment at clinics, pharmacies and certain stores, such as Ralphs, Albertsons/Vons/Pavilions, CVS, Walgreens, and Rite Aid.
• Use VaccineFinder to locate a COVID vaccine near you.

Additional information about SDSU's COVID-19 Vaccination Program.

Additional Coronavirus Resources

Conozca los datos acerca del coronavirus (En Español)

• California Department of Public Health: COVID-19
• Centers for Disease Control: Coronavirus (COVID-2019)
• World Health Organization: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic
• Johns Hopkins real-time dashboard for COVID-2019 cases

 

Case Notifications

Positive COVID-19 cases among students, faculty, staff and contractors who are physically on campus are documented and reported in accordance with the Division of Occupational Safety and Health’s (Cal/OSHA) requirements.

Confirming COVID-19 Cases

When SDSU learns of a probable or confirmed case at any SDSU location, the COVID Assessment & Response Team contacts the individual and those known to have been in contact with them. The Assessment & Response Team works to learn more about symptom onset, provide public health guidance for isolation, quarantine and testing, and to appropriately communicate information about the case.

Notification Process

Anyone confirmed as having had direct contact with someone who has tested positive will be notified and told to quarantine if needed based on U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance.

To keep the campus community informed of cases, SDSU relies on the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, known commonly as the Clery Act, to guide communications decisions regarding confirmed COVID-19 cases. SDSU will provide notification of positive cases on the COVID-19 Dashboard when 1) a public health agency has confirmed via a COVID-19 test that a member of the community has the virus AND 2) the individual was recently on campus or a university-related instructional site.

SDSU will generally not disclose more specific details about the location of individuals who have been infected for privacy reasons and also because avoiding the physical location does not inherently lower a person's risk of infection; getting vaccinated and maintaining healthy practices, to include washing your hands, are among the best methods to lower your risk.

 

HEERF DISCLOSURES

Higher Education Emergency Relief Funding Disclosures

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act was passed by the U.S. Government in the spring of 2020 to provide support in the wake of the coronavirus public health crisis and associated economic fallout. One section of the CARES Act established the Higher Education Emergency Relief fund (HEERF), which provides funding to the nation’s colleges and universities to provide emergency grants to students, as well as reimbursing colleges and universities for a portion of certain unbudgeted costs and lost revenue due to the disruption of campus activities due to the COVID-19 pandemic. San Diego State University was awarded $29,394,934, of which no less than $14,697,467 or 50% was disbursed to Students. SDSU was awarded $2,305,607 under the MSI portion of the HEERF under the CARES Act.

In late December 2020, the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriates Act (CRRSAA) was passed by the U.S. Government to provide additional support as a result of the financial challenges brought on by the ongoing pandemic. Through CRRSAA, SDSU was awarded additional grant funds through the HEERF. SDSU was awarded $14,697,467 in additional Student Aid funds, $31,216,660 in additional Institutional funds, and $3,151,669 in additional MSI funds under CRRSAA. SDSU’s acceptance of the terms of this additional grant was indicated by drawing funds from the grants.

In March 2021, the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) was passed by the U.S. Government to provide additional continued support as a result of the financial challenges brought on by the ongoing pandemic. Through ARPA, SDSU was awarded additional grant funds through the HEERF. SDSU was awarded $40,379,009 in additional Institutional funds, $40,516,163 in additional Student Aid funds, and $5,386,314 in additional MSI funds under ARPA. SDSU’s acceptance of the terms of this additional grant was indicated by drawing funds from the grants.

SDSU has used the HEERF grant funds as noted in the Quarterly Budget and Expenditures
Reporting form as of June 30, 2023. Prior reports can be found here.

Recent COMMUNICATIONS

The following earlier e-mail messages have been shared with the SDSU campus community and include some of the university's targeted communications: