Non-Residential and Residential Congregate Settings: Institutes of Higher Education
Under Title 17, Section 2500, California Code of Regulations all suspected outbreaks are reportable.
IHE Non-Residential Congregate Settings
At least 3 laboratory-confirmed cases with symptomatic or asymptomatic COVID-19 infection within a 14-day period in a group* with members on campus who are epidemiologically linked, do not share a household, and are not a close contact of each other outside of the campus. Epidemiological links require cases to be present in the same setting during the same time period while infectious.
*Groups include persons that share common membership, e.g., social organization; athletic teams, sports and recreation clubs; academic cohort; workplace on campus.
IHE Residential Congregate Settings
At least 3 laboratory-confirmed cases with symptomatic or asymptomatic COVID-19 infection with onset within a 14-day period, who live within the same dwelling or multiple dwellings that share a common area.*
*Includes on- and off-campus residential settings where groups of IHE students or staff reside, e.g., campus housing, Greek organization residential housing
Investigation can be conducted over the phone.
The frequency of follow-up with the facility for outbreak updates will be at least weekly, but more frequently as needed and determined by the Outbreak Management Branch (OMB).
Complete COVID-19 Education Sector Outbreak Form at the conclusion of the investigation (See Report Forms)
Additional Guidance/Resources:
Confirmed COVID-19: A patient with a positive SARS-CoV-2 viral (molecular or antigen) test.
Presumed COVID-19: A patient with clinically compatible symptoms of COVID-19 and no clear alternate diagnosis with/without exposure history. This presumptive clinical diagnosis is used when the provider has a high index of suspicion that a patient has COVID-19.
Cases (IHE Employees/Staff)
* Individuals vulnerable to severe illness
related to COVID-19 include those who are age 65
and above, or with underlying medical conditions
such as chronic lung disease or moderate to
severe asthma, chronic heart disease, diabetes,
end stage kidney or liver disease or weakened
immune systems such as cancer patients, those on
immunosuppressive therapy and HIV/AIDS.
A contact is a person with exposure to a confirmed case of COVID-19 during the period from 48 hours before symptom onset until the case meets criteria for discontinuing home isolation (See Home Isolation Instructions). For asymptomatic cases, the date of collection of the specimen that was positive for SARS-CoV-2 can be used in place of symptom onset.
Exposures are defined as follows:
NOTE:
Asymptomatic persons who are fully
vaccinated OR have recovered from laboratory
confirmed COVID-19 within the last 90 days
AND who are a close contact to a confirmed
case are not required to quarantine or test
for COVID-19. However, they should monitor
for symptoms of COVID-19 for 14 days
following an exposure.
Quarantine Instructions for Contacts
Contacts (Staff/Employee and Students)
*Individuals vulnerable to severe
illness related to COVID-19 include
those who are age 65 and above, or with
underlying medical conditions such as
chronic lung disease or moderate to
severe asthma, chronic heart disease,
diabetes, end stage kidney or liver
disease or weakened immune systems such
as cancer patients, those on
immunosuppressive therapy and HIV/AIDS.
Shared spaces |
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Communication |
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Staff |
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Students |
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Sleeping Arrangements |
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Mealtimes |
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Bathrooms/Bathing |
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Recreation/Common areas |
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Communication |
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Staff Activities |
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