Facial Coverings

Beginning today, California is moving Beyond the Blueprint to safely and fully reopen the economy. Governor Newsom has terminated the executive orders that put into place the Stay Home Order and the Blueprint for a Safer Economy. The Governor’s new public health order ends social distancing and capacity limits on businesses and most everyday places, including higher education settings, and it eliminates the county tier system.

Additionally, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has updated its masking guidance to match the CDC’s guidance, lifting California’s masking requirements for COVID-19 vaccinated individuals for most circumstances. Exceptions include public transportation, health care settings, and childcare and other youth settings. Unvaccinated individuals will still be required to wear masks in indoor settings.

For our employees, the California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board (Cal-OSHA) is meeting on June 17, 2021, and is expected to align its emergency COVID-19 safety orders with the Governor’s new public health order, current CDC guidance, and CDPH masking guidance. If this happens as expected, the new workplace safety order will allow vaccinated workers to no longer wear a face mask or social distance upon approval of the order, which may occur as quickly as Friday, June 18, 2021. Until the revised safety order is approved, employees must continue to comply with all existing mask wearing and social distancing requirements.

For our students and visitors reporting to our facilities, they may now forgo the use of a mask in indoor settings if they have been vaccinated against COVID-19 and social distancing in the classroom as well as room capacity restrictions will not be required. However, our top priority remains the well-being and safety of our students, visitors, and the community we serve, and vaccinated individuals may still exercise the option of wearing a mask at any time and are encouraged to do so when they are around children and others who are not yet eligible for vaccinations or are medically vulnerable. Additionally, students or visitors should refrain coming onto campus if they are ill. Should faculty or staff have questions or concerns regarding this new guidance, they should consult their supervisor or Human Resources.

At this time, the State Center Community College District will not be requiring verification of vaccine status for its students, visitors, or employees (once the revised Cal-OSHA are adopted for employees). Vaccinated individuals may attest to their vaccination status by not wearing a mask in District indoor settings.

We will continue to provide you with updates as new information becomes available, specifically as Cal-OSHA revises their safety orders and how they may apply to our workplace. Please stay safe and in good health!