Dear Students,
I write tonight with an update on the isolation process facilitated by Student Health Services (SHS). As I shared in my previous communications, LACDPH issued a new Health Officer Order on January 10 which included updates to isolation and quarantine. This email outlines the isolation process starting immediately. Please read this email carefully, any questions may be directed to your Primary Contact Dean or COVID Student Affairs Coordinator, Shawnice Ross. I have also attached SHS FAQs, which can also be found on the TCCS COVID-19 website. Please also review the FAQs.
Per LACDPH, a student who tests positive for COVID-19 must isolate for ten (10) days, however, if a student meets certain criteria, including a negative antigen test administered by a medical professional from SHS, there is a possibility to end isolation on day six (6). Students will not be released from isolation on a self-administered test.
Once a student tests positive they will receive instructions from SHS Contact Tracers to complete a contact tracing case intake questionnaire. Students will no longer be called by a SHS Contact Tracers but are expected to fill out the Contact Tracer intake questionnaire. Compliance with contact tracing is a requirement of all students who test positive and must be completed within 24 hours of a positive diagnosis. Failure to comply may result in sanctions and delay your friends/contacts in receiving vital health information.
After the form has been completed, SHS will send an appointment link for students to schedule their antigen test on day six (6) of isolation. Students will not be able to test out of isolation using a self-administered test. Students will only be released from isolation if they have a negative test administered by SHS and are asymptomatic or their symptoms have lessened and have not taken a fever reducer medication in 24 hours.
If the test on day six (6) is positive, the student will return to isolation and complete the full ten (10) days. SHS will provide the student a release day at the end of the ten (10) day isolation.
If a student receives a negative test on day six (6), they will be immediately released from isolation, meaning they can return to their isolation space, retrieve their items and move back into their assigned room in Scripps housing. The student will be required to wear a mask at all times after being released for the next four (4) days.
As we did last semester, the College will also be notified once a student tests positive. The COVID Student Coordinator or the Dean on-call will be in touch with the student immediately to begin the process of moving the student into isolation. The College will provide transportation for students into isolation, to and from SHS to test on day six (6), and back to campus once isolation has been completed.
Students who test positive at roughly the same time will be isolated together. Students in isolation will receive support from the COVID Student Affairs Coordinator, their Primary Contact Dean, and the Dean on-call for emergencies. As we did last semester, students will receive food items upon entering isolation and will receive food deliveries from Malott Commons during their time in isolation.
As students continue to make their way to campus by January 23, please remember students are required to test within 1-2 days of arrival to campus. Students must quarantine in their room and wear a mask at all times while waiting for a negative test result. SHS testing locations will not be open this weekend. Please plan your arrival accordingly. Students that arrive this Saturday or Sunday must test at an SHS location on Monday, January 24.
Students are welcome to join Academic Affairs and Student Affairs staff for a Spring Return 2022 webinar on Friday, January 21 at 4:30 pm PST.
Other items to remember!
- Get your COVID-19 booster shot! Upload proof of COVID-19 booster to Student Health Services as soon as possible but no later than January 31, 2022.
- Review CDC booster eligibility and, if you are not eligible, contact Shawnice Ross immediately.
- If a student has tested positive during the winter break, send medical verification of positive test to both SHS Student Portal and Shawnice Ross. SHS will set the date of a student’s next test, 90 days after a positive test result. If you tested positive through a self-administered test over winter break, please also inform Shawnice Ross.
- If possible and available, students should receive a negative COVID PCR test within 48 hours of arrival to campus.
- Plan to receive a COVID test upon arrival to campus at an SHS testing location and quarantine in room until receipt of a negative test result.
- If possible, purchase surgical-grade, KN95, or N95 masks before arriving to campus. All community members are required to wear a surgical-grade mask or higher. The College will supply surgical-grade masks for students. Student will receive a pack of mask weekly in their campus mailbox.
- Review Scripps College Student Community Compact.
Again, more information can be found at Scripps Strong. Please contact your Primary Contact Dean for any further questions. I look forward to seeing you all around campus.
In Community,
Dean di Bartolo-Beckman
Interim Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students