COVID-19 Information Center
For questions or inquiries, contact the COVID-19 Management Team (CMT)
Current Institute Guidelines
Thank you for your continued cooperation and support. The SWS Contact Tracers continue to work diligently to keep this community vibrant and sustain to research and in-person learning while managing public health needs in the workplace and on campus.
Vaccination/Booster – Effective June 19, 2023: Caltech has ended its current COVID-19 vaccination requirement for all Caltech employees and students.
Masking – Effective April 17, 2023: Masks are voluntary in indoor spaces unless otherwise indicated. Free N95 and KN95 masks are available for pickup with a Caltech ID at the bookstore.
Undergrad/Grad Students
Pasadena Public Health Department (PPHD) recommends anyone who is ill with respiratory symptoms or fever to stay home until they are fever-free for 24 hours and their symptoms have improved. Health officials also recommend that individuals with respiratory illnesses test repeatedly for COVID-19, with at least 24 hours between tests, if the initial test is negative but the individual remains symptomatic. Testing for COVID-19 with an at-home antigen test is encouraged to help minimize the spread of the virus. Please view the 8/19/2024 update for additional information.
While awaiting results, it is recommended that you minimize contact with others and wear a mask if you must go out into the community.
Symptoms of respiratory illnesses including COVID-19:
- 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
If you tested positive for COVID-19, please report it to the SWS Contact Tracers via the COVID-19 Reporting Application.
Caltech has implemented revised COVID-19 isolation guidelines in accordance with the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and Pasadena Public Health Department (PPHD). The updated guidelines use a symptom-based approach for determining when isolation for COVID-19 is required.
Whether or not you are experiencing symptoms, you are instructed to stay home or isolate until 24 hours have passed. You may resume activities on campus with a mask if you meet the following criteria:
- fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medicines AND
- other symptoms are mild and improving or you remain asymptomatic.
You MUST wear a well-fitted (N95, KN95) mask around others through Day 10.
You will receive daily wellness surveys to your Student Health Portal. It is essential that you complete these surveys to track your health status and prepare your timely release from isolation.
Isolate in Place
All UG/Grad students living in Caltech housing may isolate in place. If you are an UG student living in housing, you will receive an isolate in place guideline to your email. You will also receive a form from dining services to arrange meal pick-ups from your housing dining hall. You may NOT go to any campus eating venues. If you live off campus in a non-Caltech residence, please refrain from going to campus until you are released.
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.
Read about Cough and Cold Care Tips.
Isolation Release
If your daily health surveys indicate that you have met the symptoms criteria, you will receive a release communication via your Student Health Portal.
A "close contact" is defined as someone who shared the same indoor airspace (e.g., small classrooms, labs, office) with a person diagnosed with COVID-19 for 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period (does not have to be consecutive).
Guidelines for Post-Exposure:
- If you begin to feel sick with COVID-19 symptoms, please test immediately.
- If you do not have symptoms, are at a higher risk of severe COVID-19 infection, and would benefit from treatment, test within 5 days.
- If you do not have symptoms and have contact with people who are at higher risk for severe infection, it is recommended that you mask indoors when around them for 10 days. Consider testing within 5 days after the last exposure prior to contact with higher-risk people. Testing is available on campus via the surveillance testing program.
Note: Day 0 is the last day of your last contact/exposure with the confirmed case and Day 1 is the first full day after your last exposure.
Faculty, Staff & Postdocs
Pasadena Public Health Department (PPHD) recommends anyone who is ill with respiratory symptoms or fever to stay home until they are fever-free for 24 hours and their symptoms have improved. Health officials also recommend that individuals with respiratory illnesses test repeatedly for COVID-19, with at least 24 hours between tests, if the initial test is negative but the individual remains symptomatic. Testing for COVID-19 with an at-home antigen test is encouraged to help minimize the spread of the virus. Please view the 8/19/2024 update for additional information.
You may test with a home antigen test or choose to contact your healthcare provider.
Symptoms of respiratory illnesses including COVID-19:
- 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
If you have tested positive for COVID-19, please report it to the SWS Contact Tracers via the COVID-19 Reporting Application.
Caltech has implemented revised COVID-19 isolation guidelines in accordance with the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and Pasadena Public Health Department (PPHD). The updated guidelines rely on masking in addition to using a symptom-based approach for determining when isolation for COVID-19 is required.
Since you have tested positive for COVID-19, you are advised to stay home or isolate until:
- you are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medicines AND
- you have no symptoms or mild symptoms that are improving.
Regardless of symptoms, You MUST continue to wear a well-fitted (N95, KN95) mask around others for 10 days.
During your masking period, you should also avoid contact with people at high risk for severe COVID-19 including the elderly and those with immunocompromising conditions.
Please consult your healthcare provider for individualized isolation recommendations and return to work recommendations if you have more than mild symptoms or your symptoms are worsening.
Caltech encourages employees to utilize available paid leave time when unable to work. Employees can continue to work with their supervisors or managers to support remote work if appropriate for their job function and duties.
Employees, including postdoctoral scholars, must notify their supervisor of absences from work due to illness. If you will miss more than 5 days of work, please notify the Disability and Leave Administration Unit (DLAU) at leaveunit@caltech.edu or call (626) 395-3092.
Caltech continues to provide COVID-19 campus surveillance testing through UCLA SwabSEQ. Same-day symptomatic testing will also continue to be available through Student Wellness Services. Please call Student Wellness Services at (626) 395-6393 to arrange for a COVID-19 test. (PCR Testing is not recommended for 90 days from your positive COVID-19 test).
A few reminders:
- Caltech community members can obtain free masks at the Caltech Store.
- In addition, OSHA has changed the reporting requirement for COVID-19 cases. We no longer need to report every COVID-19 case to PPHD, OSHA, and our insurance carrier. We will continue to comply with cluster and outbreak reporting. We appreciate your assistance with any follow-up contract tracing.
- The Caltech Together website is now the COVID-19 Information Center on the Student Wellness Services website. Please refer here for COVID-19 information and guidelines.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Human Resources at (626) 395-3300.
A "close contact" is defined as someone who shared the same indoor airspace (e.g., small classrooms, labs, office) with a person diagnosed with COVID-19 for 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period (does not have to be consecutive).
Guidelines for Post-Exposure:
- If you begin to feel sick with COVID-19 symptoms, please test immediately.
- If you do not have symptoms, are at a higher risk of severe COVID-19 infection, and would benefit from treatment, test within 5 days.
- If you do not have symptoms and have contact with people who are at higher risk for severe infection, it is recommended that you mask indoors when around them for 10 days. Consider testing within 5 days after the last exposure prior to contact with higher-risk people. Testing is available on campus via the surveillance testing program.
Note: Day 0 is the last day of your last contact/exposure with the confirmed case and Day 1 is the first full day after your last exposure.