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Employee Health Information
Campus Protocols for COVID-19

Key Concepts

  • Public health guidance, scientific knowledge, and clinical best practices will change, so these guidelines may require updates.
  • Meticulous adherence to public health practices is extremely important including not coming to work when ill, and practicing hand hygiene, physical distancing, proper cough/sneeze etiquette, frequent disinfection of common and high traffic areas, symptom assessment, and facial covering.

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Vaccination Information

CSU COVID-19 Vaccine Requirements for Those Accessing Campus

Effective April 6th, 2023, the CSU strongly recommends that all Cal Poly employees and students accessing campus are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.


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Staffing Options

Telecommute/Remote Work

Those who can telecommute or work remotely to fulfill some or all of their work responsibilities may do so if it is operationally feasible for the unit (as determined and approved by the appropriate administrator) and consistent with the campus and division or department's practices.

Telecommuting and Remote Work Guidelines and Forms


Disability Accommodation

We are committed to providing an inclusive learning and working environment where all individuals are treated with dignity and respect. In alignment with these values, and in compliance with applicable laws and policies, qualified individuals with a disability shall be provided a reasonable accommodation in order to perform the essential functions of their job.

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Isolation & Quarantine

Pursuant to Cal/OSHA effective February 3, 2023 - February 3, 2025, Cal Poly will adhere to the following isolation and quarantine standards:

Employees who Test Positive for COVID-19 (Isolation) — Regardless of vaccination status, previous infection, or lack of symptoms, employees who test positive for COVID-19:

  • Must be excluded from the workplace for at least five days from the date of the first positive test.
  • Must continue to isolate if they have a fever and may not return to work until the fever resolves.
  • May return to the workplace after Day 5 if symptoms are not present or are resolving and a COVID-19 test* (preferably an antigen test) that is collected on Day 5 or later is negative.
  • Must wear face coverings around others for a total of 10 days after the positive test (and in accordance with campus protocols).
  • Must be excluded from the workplace for 10 days if they are unable to test or if symptoms are not resolving.

Employees who have had a close contact with a COVID-19 case.

  • Must stay home and take a COVID-19 test if symptoms develop.
  • Must take a COVID-19 test between 3 and 5 days from the exposure date if no symptoms develop.
  • Must wear a face covering around others for 10 days.
  • Must follow the isolation requirements above if they test positive.

Close contact is defined as 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 infectious period.

Reporting a COVID-19 Diagnosis

All employees who test positive for COVID-19 or are diagnosed with COVID-19 should submit the COVID-19 Reporting Form. Reporting positive cases is critical, as it enables Environmental Health and Safety to conduct exposure investigations and allows the campus to maintain an accurate count of COVID-19 cases. Cal Poly Corporation employees who test positive should contact cpchr@calpoly.edu for further guidance. ASI employees who test positive should contact rgkane@calpoly.edu for further guidance.

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Off-Campus Testing Resources

Please contact your family healthcare provider to determine the testing options available to you.

In addition, you may also have access to testing through a local urgent care facility, pharmacy, or community testing sites in your area. Testing varies from county to county. Check with your local community testing site to see if they offer asymptomatic testing. In addition, verify the average turnaround time for receiving test results, as laboratory processing and reporting times vary greatly.

Insurance

If you have insurance, please have your insurance card available when you register at the county testing sites. You will not be charged a co-pay, but your insurance will be charged. Testing may not be free at urgent care centers or primary care physicians.

Self-testing kits

If you need to be tested for COVID-19 and can’t get tested by a healthcare provider, you can consider using either a self-collection kit or a self-test that can be performed at home or anywhere else. At-home tests are now widely available for purchase at local pharmacies and the Cal Poly Pharmacy. Visit the CDC Self-Testing webpage for more information.

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For questions about COVID-19 reporting, exposure and quarantine guidance, please call 1-877-258-2111.

Keeping Each Other Safe

Taking these preventative steps will help protect the safety of our entire community.

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Guidance on Face Coverings

Cal Poly strongly recommends masks to be worn indoors, regardless of vaccination status.


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Wash Your Hands

Frequently wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds throughout the day.


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Keep Things Sanitary

Clean and disinfect the surfaces and items you frequently touch.


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Monitor Your Health

Run through a symptoms checklist daily and stay home if you don't feel well.

Follow these steps if an employee begins having suspected COVID-19 symptoms or feels ill during the workday

Immediately separate the employee who is ill from other workers, customers and visitors.

If safe to do so, send the employee home and instruct them to follow up with a healthcare provider; otherwise, call 911.

If possible, close off all areas that the ill employee was using

Refer to the CDC guidance for cleaning and disinfecting the area when someone is ill.

  • What Symptoms Should I Be Watching For?

    Patients with confirmed infection with COVID-19 reported these symptoms (as of July 19, 2021). Symptoms can range in severity from very mild to severe.This list does not include all possible symptons.

    icons of symptoms
    • Cough
    • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
    • Fever or chills
    • Fatigue
    • Muscle or body aches
    • Headache
    • New loss of taste or smell
    • Sore throat
    • Congestion or runny nose
    • Nausea or vomiting
    • Diarrhea

    According to the CDC, individuals with certain conditions may have a higher risk for COVID-19 infection. More information can be found on the CDC website.

    Employees whose ages or health conditions fall within one of the CDC High Risk Categories or are pregnant should continue to telework; if teleworking is unavailable, employees should speak with Human Resources to explore other reasonable accommodations including leave options.