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COVID-19 & Vaccination Information Hornet Family. Together Again.

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COVID-19 & Vaccination Information

Are Vaccines Required at Sac State?

The CSU’s COVID-19 vaccination requirement remains in effect for the Fall 2022 semester. To access campus facilities and programs, all students, faculty, and staff must be up to date with COVID-19 vaccinations/boosters or have been granted a religious or medical exemption. Individuals who already have a religious or medical exemption from the University do not need to reapply. Individuals can update their COVID self-certification whenever their status changes.

Being fully vaccinated/boosted remains the single most effective way to avoid serious illness from COVID-19. You can visit My Turn California or Sacramento County's Department of Health Services site to schedule a free vaccination near you. Information about booster eligibility can be found on the CDC website.

Student Health and Counseling no longer provides vaccinations/boosters.

Are face coverings required?

The University strongly recommends, but does not require, that all individuals - staff, faculty, students and visitors - wear face coverings indoors.

Face coverings, however, remain required within health care settings, including Student Health and Counseling Services. We will continue to follow county public health guidelines with respect to face coverings.

Employees and students can access free face coverings and N95 masks at several campus locations, such as the Library checkout counter and the University Union information desk. As always, please do not hesitate to reach out to Risk Management Services if you have questions and/or if you need to order COVID-19 supplies.

The choice whether to wear a face covering is a personal, and we will not tolerate disrespect of individuals for their choice.

Where Can I Obtain Safety Supplies?

Covid-19 safety supplies such as N-95 masks, alternative face coverings, hand disinfectant, disinfecting wipes, and other material are available through Environmental Health and Safety and can be obtained online.

How Do I Certify My Vaccine Status?

All Sacramento State students and employees are required to declare one of the following:

  • They have received an approved COVID-19 vaccination, with the final dose administered at least 14 days before certification.
  • They qualify for a medical exemption (details below).
  • They qualify for a religious exemption (details below).
  • They do not plan to access campus or any campus programs (including field placements or internships and athletics), and that if their plans change, they will revise their certification before accessing campus or campus programs.

Students will find the vaccination self-certification page in their Student Center. Students are required to include the manufacturer of their vaccine and dates they were administered each dose.

Employees will find the CSU COVID-19 Self Certification page in their Employee Center linked from the My Sac State page.

Are Exemptions Allowed?

Students and employees may be excused from the vaccination requirement if they qualify for a medical or religious exemption. To request an exemption, they will need to select the appropriate box in the CSU COVID-19 Vaccination Certification form in their Student or Employee Center, found on the My Sac State page.

Students will be asked to provide medical or religious exemption documentation during the self-certification process. Visit the Return to Campus & COVID-19 Information for Students page for more details.

Employees declaring that they qualify for a medical exemption may be asked to provide supporting documentation from a licensed health care professional.

Employees declaring that they qualify for a religious exemption may be asked to provide a statement about their sincerely held religious belief, observance, or practice that precludes them from receiving the vaccine.

What's New About Testing at Sac State?

We have discontinued the twice-weekly surveillance testing program. We instead are focused on testing symptomatic individuals (see below) and encouraging students and employees to report positive cases. All faculty, staff, and students must test if they are symptomatic, and all positive tests must continue to be reported to the University.

The University has a limited number of iHealth COVID-19 test kits available to employees on a first-come, first-served basis. Employees must schedule a time to pick up the tests.

For more information about how to obtain a test off campus, go to the Sacramento County Public Health website. Tests also can be obtained at numerous retail outlets.

Students experiencing severe COVID-19 symptoms should contact Student Health and Counseling Services (SHCS) at the WELL online or by calling 916-278-6461. Symptomatic students should contact SHCS for a telehealth appointment before visiting health services on campus.

Students who are symptomatic or test positive are required to report their positive test via the student health services reporting link. SHCS will provide guidance to students. Faculty should continue to be fair and flexible with students who miss class due to illness.

What If I've Been Exposed to Someone Who Tests Positive for COVID-19?

Per state law, employees will continue to be notified of close exposure to a person testing positive in the workplace, and test kits will be made available in these instances. Individuals who receive a notification of possible exposure should read the notification carefully and ensure that they follow the instructions and guidance.

If you are fully vaccinated, received a booster, or are vaccinated but not yet eligible for a booster, and are asymptomatic, you do not need to self-quarantine after an exposure to COVID-19. Faculty and staff may come to work and students may attend class.

However, the CDC recommends that you continue to wear a mask for 10 days after a close exposure. If you develop COVID-19 symptoms, contact your doctor immediately to be tested and self-quarantine until you receive your results. If you test positive, follow Isolation and Quarantine Recommendations for the general public from the California Department of Public Health.

If you are unvaccinated and have been exposed to a COVID-positive individual, you should self-isolate and be tested.

For more information, please visit the California Department of Public Health website.

Please follow these steps if you have been exposed.

What Should I Do if I Test Positive for COVID-19?

For students:

Students testing positive for COVID-19 must complete the confidential report linked from the Information for Students page and wait to be contacted with further instructions. Do not come to campus if you have tested positive for COVID-19. Plan to isolate for a minimum of 10 days.

We will continue to offer free testing to students who are symptomatic through Student Health and Counseling Services (SHCS) at the WELL. Students who are symptomatic or test positive are required to report their positive test via the student health services reporting link. SHCS will provide guidance to students.

For employees:

Employees must inform their appropriate administrator/MPP of their positive test result immediately and file an official confidential report for staff and faculty with Risk Management. Risk Management provides detailed information on next steps for all employees who test positive for COVID-19. Asymptomatic employees should work with their administrator/MPP to establish an informal, temporary telework arrangement if possible. However, employees should take time to recover and heal if they are not feeling well.

What do I do before returning to work after testing positive?

Cal/OSHA provides these guidelines:

  • Employees who test positive should isolate at home for three to five days from the onset of symptoms.
  • Employees who are asymptomatic or whose symptoms are resolving, and whose test on day five is negative may return to work.
  • Employees who are unable or choose not to test, and are asymptomatic or with symptoms that are resolving, may return to the workplace after day 10.

More information for employees who have tested positive.

How Do I Report a Positive COVID Test?

If you, or someone you know, tested positive for COVID-19, the individual must complete the appropriate form below as soon as possible.

Form for Students (in your Student Center)

Form for Staff or Faculty Members

The form will be forwarded to campus health officials and they will contact the individual directly with additional follow up and instructions. If a high-risk situation is identified, then other individuals who may need to take additional action will also be contacted.

For staff and faculty, reports are handled through Environmental Health & Safety. Student reports are facilitated by Student Health & Counseling.

What guidelines must student housing residents follow?

We ask all students living in North Village residence halls to test for COVID-19 before arriving on campus. North Village residents will be tested upon arrival. Anyone who tests positive upon check-in will be asked to return home to isolate and return to campus after 10 days. Room and board for isolated students will be prorated to account for their absence. Students living in North Village and Hornet Commons will be provided free test kits upon arrival and will have access to test kits throughout the semester.

The University this year also will require all North Village residential housing students to receive a flu vaccination when it becomes available this fall. SHCS is prepared to offer all Sacramento State students free flu vaccinations this fall.

Students in North Village or Hornet Commons who test positive for COVID-19 or the seasonal flu should not attend class or work. They will be asked to isolate in their rooms, wear a face covering, and minimize contact with others. Those in isolation should avoid shared areas of the residence halls. North Village students will be permitted to pick up grab-and-go meals. Students may also choose to return home. Students will be cleared to return to normal activities by SHCS. In medically required instances, University Housing will accommodate the highest-risk North Village students with isolation from roommates.

What if I Have Additional Questions?