This message was sent to the CalArts community from the COVID Compliance Officer regarding positive COVID tests in the community.
Dear CalArtians,
We are writing to share with you that, sadly, additional members of the CalArts community have tested positive for COVID-19. We are sending our thoughts for quick and full recoveries to these staff.
We received this information last night, Monday, Jan. 11, from the affected individuals. As required by law and to protect patient privacy, we cannot share any information that would identify these individuals. The last days the affected individuals were on campus were Jan. 6 and 7. All individuals who had contact with these individuals have already been notified. These cases are not epidemiologically related to the first two cases we have reported to you over the past months. According to the CDC, symptoms can appear anywhere from two to 10 days after exposure. Jan. 17 marks the end of the 10-day quarantine period from the point of potential exposure related to these cases.
The current surge in Los Angeles County and California is extremely serious. We strongly urge you to work from home if at all possible. Even short trips to campus for work tasks should be avoided. Your safety and the safety of our community are very important to us.
We urge you to continue to carefully self-monitor for symptoms, including for any sign of fever, cough, or respiratory sickness every day before coming into contact with others. Concerns about your individual health should be directed to your health care provider. To contact the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, please dial 211.
The physical areas of the campus through which these individuals passed are part of our regular cleaning regimen and will now undergo more cleaning. Please be aware that transmission is thought to occur commonly via sustained face-to-face contact and through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Physically distancing from others, wearing a mask, and continually washing your hands are key safety and wellness protocols. Transmission via surfaces is believed to be less common.
We will keep you informed as we receive additional information, and urge you to check the website for updates.
Be safe and be well.
Sincerely,
Jesse Smith
COVID-19 Compliance Task Force Officer