Dear Bobcats,
I hope this message finds you all doing well and enjoying the spring season. With cautious optimism, it’s my belief that we are now experiencing a degree of stability in regards to the pandemic for the foreseeable future.
In accordance with my update last month and due to greatly reduced cases in Merced County and on campus, we are continuing to transition to a more relaxed level of risk mitigation. Starting today, April 8, face coverings are encouraged but no longer required for classroom and instructional activities.
This decision is informed by a number of factors, with special attention paid to our campus positivity rate. Upon returning from spring break, we had a remarkably low positivity rate of 0.25%. Additionally, within Merced County, case rates have been extremely low.
While we’ve relaxed our mitigation measures, it’s still important that each of us do our part in continuing to keep our campus as healthy as possible.
- Please stay home when sick. Employees still have access to COVID Leave through September 2022; please use it as needed to help protect our community.
- Please continue to get vaccinated and boosted when eligible.
- Face coverings are strongly encouraged when indoors, especially during active outbreaks.
The past two years of the pandemic have taught us so much about protecting ourselves and our community. Thank you for all you have done to bring us to this moment, my words do not do justice to the deep appreciation and gratitude that I have for each of you.
Andrew Boyd
Chief Resilience Officer
