Due to the number of Covid cases among students in the past two weeks, Alameda County Public Health Department has required the college to cancel or reschedule large on-campus events. Alameda County policy defines three or more cases within one week as an outbreak. As a result, the college has made the decision to move the Wave, scheduled for August 6-8, to a virtual format. Classes will remain cancelled and the Health Center will remain closed for both Thursday and Friday this week.
Further to our communication of August 2nd, please remember that everyone who enters the campus building, must wear a mask fully over their mouth and nose. This is not optional unless you are eligible for an exemption per the Alameda County order.
Enforcement: Failure to comply with the Alameda County order and LCCW Covid Prevention Plan will result in corrective action:
- First failure to comply will result in a verbal warning and you will be expected to comply immediately
- Second failure to comply will result in removal from campus for the remainder of the day
- Third failure to comply will result in disciplinary action up to and including suspension/termination
Masks: N95 masks will be provided to employees free of charge upon request. If an employee needs a mask, please see Human Resources. Students may obtain a mask free of charge from the Bookstore.
Guidelines Following a Known Exposure to Covid
Given that the majority of our student population is either unvaccinated or declines to state, it is important to restate the guidelines following a known exposure to Covid. These apply both to those who are vaccinated and those who are not vaccinated.
Exposure/Close Contact Defined: In the presence of someone who is Covid positive for 15+ minutes under six foot distance.
When to Self-Isolate or Quarantine
Unvaccinated: If you are unvaccinated and you have been notified by Life West as having had close contact (as defined above) with someone that tested positive for Covid, you must self-isolate and quarantine for 14 days from date of exposure, even if you have no symptoms. If you have symptoms, or develop symptoms later, you must quarantine until the symptoms abate, plus 10 more days beyond that.
Vaccinated: If you are vaccinated and you have been notified by Life West as having had close contact (as defined above) with someone that tested positive for Covid, you do not have to quarantine if you do not have symptoms. If you do have symptoms, you must quarantine until symptoms abate, plus 10 more days beyond that.
If You Receive a Covid Positive Result
Whether you are vaccinated or unvaccinated, you must quarantine, if asymptomatic for 14 days; if you are symptomatic you must quarantine until symptoms abate plus 10 further days. As always, students must report positive test results to Professor Straub; employees must report positive test results to Tarsha Addison.
Further Enquiries
These protocols apply the same to everyone, whether student, faculty, or employee, and will be strictly enforced. For any enquiries, please refer to the following:
- Students – Professor David Straub at dstraub@lifewest.edu
- Interns – Dr. Lauren Clum at lclum@lifewest.edu
- Employees – Tarsha Addison at taddison@lifewest.edu
Life West Taskforce Team
