Dear CalArtians,
With spring break and many important holidays and celebrations approaching you may be considering some type of travel. Both the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Los Angeles County Public Health have posted warnings and guidelines about travel at this time.
The CDC has advised that travel increases your chance of getting and spreading COVID-19. The CDC recommends that you do not travel at this time. They are encouraging us to delay travel and to stay home to protect yourself and others from COVID-19. Visit CDC’s Travel During COVID-19 for more information and steps to take if you must travel.
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health’s (LACPH) current advisory regarding travel also emphasizes that travel increases the risk of becoming infected with and transmitting COVID-19. They are urging faculty, students, and staff to delay travel and stay close to home to protect themselves and others from the virus, even if vaccinated.
For individuals who elect to travel despite the LACPH’s current advisory, they recommend the following:
- Travel locally, within a 120-mile radius from your place of residence.
- Get tested 1-3 days prior to travelling and 3-5 days after return. Do not travel if your test is positive, or if positive upon return, you must isolate for minimum 10 days (and until symptoms improve and you are afebrile for at least 24 hours if symptomatic illness occurs). You also must inform all close contacts within the 48 hours preceding onset of symptoms or within 48 hours of your positive test result if asymptomatic, of their potential exposure.
- A 10-day quarantine is required after return to Los Angeles County after travel outside California, even if you have a negative COVID-19 test, or you do not test at all.
LACPH reminds us that the above advisories apply regardless of an individual’s vaccination status.
Be well and be safe.
Jesse Smith
Vice President for Operations and Facilities;
Chief Operating Officer
David Braverman
Interim Director of Care and Wellbeing