Dear Cuesta Community,

There is good news to share on the vaccine front. More than a third of our Children’s Center employees will receive their first dose of vaccine this week and 15 employees assigned essential work on campus requiring in person interaction will receive notice of eligibility later today including directions for scheduling an appointment for next week.

[**It is important to note that notice of vaccine eligibility will come from a calpoly.edu email address. Cal Poly is coordinating the scheduling of appointments for all SLO County higher education employees.]

UPDATE: Please note, there has been a change and employees eligible to schedule a vaccine will receive the notice from hr@cuesta.edu

Over the last couple of days, information has hinted at increasing availability of vaccine. Cuesta College is working very closely with Cal Poly and SLO County DPH to ensure equity of vaccine distribution for our employees. Your help is needed to make scheduling as issue free as possible. 

If you have already been vaccinated, please email hr@cuesta.edu. This will allow us to schedule only employees who have not received vaccine through other means.

If you receive an email from Cal Poly providing notice of eligibility for vaccine and wish to decline, please email hr@cuesta.edu. This will allow another Cuesta College employee the opportunity to have the allocated dose of vaccine.

Governor Newsom’s brief visit to the SLO campus yesterday aligned with the move of SLO County into the Red Tier a positive step in reopening our community. 

Updated guidance on quarantine has been provided by CA Department of Public Health and our Reopening Plan is being modified as stated below and attached.

Thank you for continued patience – you are appreciated!

When Can I Return to Campus?

Guidance for quarantine is based on vaccine, positive COVID-19 test, and exposure. Follow the guidance presented below that best fits your situation.

I have not been vaccinated and one of the following apply

I think, or I know, I had COVID-19, and I had symptoms

You can return to campus after:

  • 10 days since the symptoms appeared and
  • at least 24 hours with no fever (without the use of fever reducing medication) and
  • symptoms have improved 

I tested positive for COVID-19 but had no symptoms

If you continue to have no symptoms, you can return to campus after:

  • 10 days have passed since the test

If you develop symptoms after testing positive, follow the guidance above for “I think or know I had COVID-19, and I had symptoms.”

I have had close contact (less than 6 feet for at least 15 minutes) with someone who tested positive for COVID-19

  • 14-day quarantine: This remains the safest and preferred option. Stay home for 14 days from the date of last exposure.
  • 10-day quarantine: Those who do not experience symptoms and do not live or work in high-risk settings may discontinue quarantine after day 10 from the date of last exposure.

All contacts released from quarantine before day 14 must:

  • Self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms through day 14 and if symptoms occur, immediately self-isolate and contact their local public health department or healthcare provider and seek testing.
  • Adhere strictly to all recommended non-pharmaceutical interventions, including consistent use of face coverings and maintaining a distance of at least 6 feet from others, through day 14.

A 7-day quarantine plus negative test is not an option. A negative test result will not change an individual’s duration of quarantine.

I have been fully vaccinated

The following 3-part test determines whether you qualify as fully vaccinated and would not be required to quarantine following exposure to someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19:

  1. You are fully vaccinated (i.e., it has been at least two weeks since you received the 2nd dose in a 2-dose series, or it has been at least 2 weeks since you received 1 dose of a single-dose vaccine;
  2. The close contact exposure is within 3 months following receipt of your last dose in the series; and
  3. You have remained asymptomatic since the close contact exposure.

If this accurately describes your situation, you do not need to quarantine.

I have tested positive for COVID-19 within the past 3 months and have been in close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19

  • People who have tested positive for COVID-19 within the past 3 months and recovered do not have to quarantine or get tested again as long as they do not develop new symptoms.
  • People who develop symptoms again within 3 months of their first bout of COVID-19 may need to be tested again if there is no other cause identified for their symptoms.
  • People who have been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19 are not required to quarantine if they have been fully vaccinated against the disease within the last three months and show no symptoms.

Maintain 6’ of distance, wear a mask, and continue to wash your hands frequently. Let’s get through this safely together!

Jill signature

Jill Stearns, Ph.D.

Superintendent/President

Highway 1, San Luis Obispo, CA 93403 

805.546.3118 | www.cuesta.edu