Your Guide to COVID-19 & Respiratory Illnesses
Recommendations
Thank you for your continued cooperation and support. Caltech follows guidance from Pasadena Public Health for requirements related to respiratory illnesses and other communicable diseases. We also comply with all applicable OSHA workplace regulations.
Student Wellness Services (SWS) Contact Tracing remains available to assist with individual cases, and to monitor and support response efforts in the event of clusters or outbreaks. We encourage voluntary reporting to help maintain a healthy campus environment—supporting our community's ability to sustain in-person learning and research while addressing ongoing and emerging public health concerns.
Reminders:
- Report your illness using the COVID-19 app: All faculty, staff, post-doctoral scholars, and students are encouraged to report positive test results via the COVID-19 reporting app.
- Vaccination/Booster – Effective June 19, 2023: Caltech has ended its current COVID-19 vaccination requirement for Caltech employees and students. Per the Pasadena Public Health Department, it is still recommended to stay up to date on your vaccines to help protect yourself this respiratory illness season.
- Masking – Effective April 17, 2023: Masks are voluntary in indoor spaces unless otherwise indicated. Free masks are still available for pickup at the bookstore with your Caltech ID.
- For employees, if you are unable to work due to illness, please notify your supervisor as soon as possible. You may also coordinate with your supervisor to arrange remote work, if appropriate for your job duties. If you anticipate being out for more than five consecutive workdays, please contact the Disability and Leave Administration Unit (DLAU) at [email protected] or call (626) 395-3092. As per OSHA regulations, all workplace exposures are reported on the COVID-19 Dashboard.
Testing Resources
For more information about on-campus testing resources, please visit the Testing Resources page.
SwabSEQ Testing Collection Box Closures:
- November 27th & 28th- Thanksgiving
- December 22nd-January 2nd- Winter Break
Undergrad/Grad Students
Respiratory infections such as flu, RSV, and COVID-19 cause similar symptoms. People often feel some or all of the following symptoms:
- Fever or chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- Loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
Some people may feel no symptoms at all.
Testing
If you have symptoms and you are at higher risk for severe disease or exposing someone else at higher risk, you should get tested. Early testing leads to early treatment and less severe disease or quicker recovery.
- Consider using an at-home test to test for COVID-19 and flu.
- Schedule a test at Student Wellness Services by calling (626) 395-6393.
When you can go back to normal activities
You can resume your usual activities when both of the following are true:
- Your symptoms are improving overall, and
- You've been fever-free for at least 24 hours without using any fever-reducing medications.
Over the next 5 days, take extra precautions as you may still be contagious:
- Wearing a well-fitting mask. (Free masks are available at the Caltech bookstore.)
- Practice good hygiene.
- Physical distancing from others who may be at high risk for severe illness.
These measures are especially important to help protect individuals who are at higher risk for severe illness from respiratory viruses.
Students are able to isolate in place within their residence, where they can rest and recover comfortably. You may pick up your meals while wearing a mask. If you're not feeling well enough to do so, please contact a friend, and only if urgent, your House RA, or your RLC for assistance.
If you need a cold care kit (which includes ibuprofen or acetaminophen and cough drops), you can pick one up from the vending machine located above Red Door in Hameetman or in person at the Student Health Center at 1239 Arden Rd.
Medical Care
If your symptoms are not improving or you have any medical concerns, please call the Student Health Center at (626) 395-6393 to schedule an appointment.
For after-hours or weekend care, you may schedule a telehealth appointment with TimelyCare. This serves as a 24/7 virtual extension of our health and counseling services resources. It is free of charge for all enrolled students.
Source: California Department of Public Health, CDC
Faculty, Staff & Postdocs
Respiratory infections such as flu, RSV, and COVID-19 cause similar symptoms. People often feel some or all of the following symptoms:
- Fever or chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- Loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
Some people may feel no symptoms at all.
Testing
If you have symptoms and you are at higher risk for severe disease or exposing someone else at higher risk, you should get tested. Early testing leads to early treatment and less severe disease or quicker recovery.
- You may test with a home antigen test or choose to contact your healthcare provider.
- You may also schedule a test at Student Wellness Services by calling (626) 395-6393.
When you can go back to normal activities
You can resume your usual activities when both of the following are true:
- Your symptoms are improving overall, and
- You've been fever-free for at least 24 hours without using any fever-reducing medications.
Over the next 5 days, take extra precautions as you may still be contagious:
- Wearing a well-fitting mask. (Free masks are available at the Caltech bookstore.)
- Practicing good hygiene.
- Physical distancing from others who may be at high risk for severe illness.
These measures are especially important to help protect individuals who are at higher risk for severe illness from respiratory viruses.
If you are unable to work due to illness, please notify your supervisor as soon as possible. You may also coordinate with your supervisor to arrange remote work, if appropriate for your job duties.
If you are experiencing more than mild symptoms, or if your symptoms are worsening, please consult your healthcare provider for guidance on when it is appropriate to return to work.
If you anticipate being out for more than five consecutive workdays, please contact the Disability and Leave Administration Unit (DLAU) at [email protected] or call (626) 395-3092.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Human Resources at (626) 395-3300.
Source: California Department of Public Health, CDC