Dear Colleagues,
I hope this message finds you, your family, and your friends in good health. The start of another semester brings with it excitement and anticipation, and once again this year, a level of anxiety. Along with the excitement of a new semester, there is a surge in COVID cases across our state, as well as the emergence of the Omicron variant.
Given the rise in cases of COVID-19 and the Omicron variant, it is an important reminder that the pandemic is not over. MCCCD will continue to enforce our established safety protocols. These include the requirement for all individuals — faculty, staff, students, and visitors — to wear face coverings in all indoor areas, including classrooms, to practice social distancing, and to monitor your health and remain home when ill.
With respect to face coverings, the CDC recommends wearing three-layer (surgical) face coverings as they provide the best level of protection. Initial scientific findings indicate the Omicron variant is more transmissible than the Delta variant, and three-layered masks (such as surgical masks) are the best option to protect against the Omicron variant.
Additionally, MCCCD continues to strongly encourage members of our community who are able to do so to receive the vaccine and follow-up booster. We are committed to remaining in-person and open for in-person services to support our students and community. The vaccine and adherence to our established safety protocols provide the best protection for us all.
New Isolation and Quarantine Protocols based on CDC’s 12/27/2021 update:
(These protocols are subject to change as additional CDC recommendations are proposed.)
Individuals with COVID-like Symptoms or tested positive for COVID-19: (Regardless of Vaccine Status)
Isolate yourself for a minimum of 5 days and monitor your symptoms. You are able to return to in-person classes/work when all 4 of the following CDC criteria have been met:
- At least 5 days since symptoms first appeared and
- At least 24 hours with no fever without the use of fever-reducing medication and
- Other symptoms of COVID-19 are improving or have completely resolved (and no new symptoms appear) and
- Continue to wear a mask/face covering around others for 5 additional days after isolation is discontinued.
Potential Exposure to a COVID-19 positive individual:
If you are asymptomatic and any of the following scenarios apply to your situation:
- Completed the two-dose vaccine series for either Pfizer or Moderna within 6 months of your potential exposure or
- You do not need to quarantine, but you must wear a mask around others for 10 days.**
- Completed the primary series of the J&J vaccine within the last 2 months from your potential exposure or
- You have had any of the booster shots or
- You have recovered from COVID-19 within 3 months of your potential exposure.
Then, you do not need to quarantine, but you must wear a mask around others for 10 days.**
If you are asymptomatic and any of the following scenarios apply to your situation:
- Completed the primary series of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine over 6 months ago and are not boosted or
- Completed the primary series of the J&J vaccine over 2 months ago and are not boosted or
- Are unvaccinated or
- Have not recovered from COVID-19 within 3 months of your potential exposure.
Then, stay home for 7 days from the date of your last exposure. After that continue to wear a mask around others for 5 additional days.*
**If you develop COVID-19 like symptoms or test positive during your quarantine, regardless of your vaccine status, you must isolate and immediately complete the online form Report Symptoms or Confirmed Case.
As a result of these changes to the COVID-19 isolation and quarantine periods, those who have recently received an email from Risk Management with the 10 and 14-day isolation/quarantine time frames may reduce them to 5 and 7 days, respectively. If you have any questions, please contact Risk Management at dl-dssc-risk-management@domail.maricopa.edu.
I want to acknowledge the frustrations and anxieties that members of our Maricopa community may be feeling. I have every reason to believe that our approaches to safety measures across our college campuses and the district office will continue to be successful. There may be differences across our District, and we thank you for your patience as District Office and College leadership teams evaluate local needs.
I cannot express enough my gratitude for your patience and perseverance. I am proud of Maricopa and look forward to a great 2022. I will continue to share more information as new details emerge or as our plans evolve.
Sincerely,
Steven