COVID-19 Information

1. What should I do if test positive for COVID-19?

If you are in need of medical care, please call Health Services at (805) 493-3225 to make an appointment or use the TimelyCare App to make a virtual appointment. 

2. What should I do if I have an exposure to COVID-19?

In general, you are cleared to continue to be on campus so long as you are not having any symptoms. However, you should get tested 3-5 days after your last exposure and wear a mask on campus for at least 10 days following your exposure. If you become symptomatic, stay home, get tested ASAP, and follow the steps outlined in the tab above called "Exposures."

3. What should I do if my roommate tests positive for COVID-19?

If your roommate tests positive and you are at high risk of severe disease, you may request a temporary move to another location for the duration of your roommate's infectious period. The specifics of the alternative location will be determined by California Lutheran University Student Affairs staff and may be located off campus. "Medically high-risk" is determined by Health Services. Students at high risk of severe disease can contact covid19reporting@callutheran.edu to confirm risk and initiate the process of moving to a different location for the duration of a roommate’s infectious period.

4. What should I do if I am having symptoms of COVID-19?

If you have severe symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, chest pains, fainting, you should seek immediate medical care by going to the ER or calling 911.

5. Are there any COVID-19 vaccination requirements?

COVID-19 vaccinations are NOT required by Cal Lutheran University at this time. However, for everyone's own health and the health of the entire community, we strongly recommend everyone stay up-to-date with their COVID-19 vaccinations. Information on staying up-to-date can be found on the CDC website.

6. Are there any mask requirements on campus?

With few exceptions, masking is optional across most of the Cal Lutheran campus. However, we strongly encourage anyone with illness symptoms or COVID-19 exposures to mask in order to reduce the spread of illness.

1. What should I do if test positive for COVID-19?

As soon as possible, report your positive result. Someone will email you back within 24 hours to discuss next steps and answer any questions. Please watch your Cal Lutheran email as it will contain important information regarding when you can return to campus. You should also notify your supervisor, your department chair/program director, or your dean.

2. What should I do if I have an exposure to COVID-19?

In general, you are cleared to continue to be on campus so long as you are not having any symptoms. However, you should get tested 3-5 days after your last exposure and wear a mask on campus for at least 10 days following your exposure. If you become symptomatic, stay home, get tested ASAP, and follow the steps outlined in the tab above called "Exposures."

3. What should I do if I am having symptoms of COVID-19?

If you have severe symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, chest pains, fainting, you should seek immediate medical care by going to the ER or calling 911.

4. Are there any COVID-19 vaccination requirements?

COVID-19 vaccinations are NOT required by Cal Lutheran University at this time. However, for everyone's own health and the health of the entire community, we strongly recommend everyone stay up-to-date with their COVID-19 vaccinations. Information on staying up-to-date can be found on the CDC website.

5. Are there any mask requirements on campus?

With few exceptions, masking is optional across most of the Cal Lutheran campus. However, we strongly encourage anyone with illness symptoms or COVID-19 exposures to mask in order to reduce the spread of illness.

6. Can I get tested for COVID-19 on campus at Health Services?

Employees are encouraged to use over-the-counter COVID-19 tests that may be purchased at most local pharmacies or to go to their medical provider or a local urgent care for testing.

7. What happens if a student in my class tests positive for COVID-19?

Discuss ways for the student to continue their education while isolating and provide appropriate accommodations and extensions. We are not requiring any specific method (including recording) for keeping students up to date on their coursework. Since all classes are different, we leave it to each faculty member to determine the best way for students to continue with coursework while in isolation. This could include using a 360 degree camera for the student to Zoom into class, but this is at the professor’s discretion. Please be flexible with your attendance policies.

8. Who is notified about exposures?

The definition of an exposure under California Department of Public Health guidelines is anyone in the same indoor airspace (e.g., classroom, airplane cabin, waiting room) with the infected person during their contagious period for > 15 minutes over a 24 hour period. This will typically mean that everyone in a classroom would be considered an exposure as most classes are indoors and over 15 minutes.

9. Am I allowed to tell students about a positive COVID-19 case in the classroom?

Faculty are allowed to inform students in a class if someone in their class tested positive for COVID so long as it does not violate FERPA privacy laws. This means that a professor can inform their class that a person who attended the "Monday 10:00 class session" (as an example) has tested positive for COVID so long as the professor does not divulge the name of the infected person. Sending a note to students containing general information and informing them of an exposure is not a violation of FERPA. In these cases, professors can remind exposed students about watching for symptoms and getting tested 3-5 days after the exposure, but they should not require students to show a negative test before coming to the next class.

10. Why wasn't I notified about an exposure?

(4) The positive individual may not have interacted with you for long enough period of time. We only notify individuals of an exposure that meets the definition of a Close Contact under the California Department of Health Definition. The definition of a close contact is: “Someone sharing the same indoor airspace, e.g., home, clinic waiting room, airplane etc., for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period (for example, three individual 5-minute exposures for a total of 15 minutes) during an infected person's (laboratory-confirmed or a clinical diagnosis) Infectious period.”

11. If a student tells me they are sick and cannot attend class, can I require proof?

We ask that faculty give students the benefit of the doubt in the interest of the overall health of the Cal Lutheran community. Faculty should not ask for test results or other medical information, as this information is protected under patient privacy laws. Please be flexible with your attendance policies.

12. For students who are isolating, what accommodations am I expected to provide them?

Faculty have many options available to them, including making course materials, lecture notes, readings, assignments, and recordings available, or allowing students to Zoom into class meetings using the 360 cameras. Faculty should provide extensions on course requirements if students become sick or if isolation prevents them from completing assignments on time.