COVID-19 Information Center
Current Institute Guidelines
Thank you for your continued cooperation and support. The Covid-19 Management Team (CMT) continues to work diligently to keep this community vibrant and sustain our successful return to research and in-person learning.
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.
UG/Grad Students
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 and are 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.
It is recommended that students report ALL symptoms through the Covid-19 reporting application. The Covid-19 Management Team (CMT) will follow up with getting a Covid-19 test at the student health center. While awaiting results, it is strongly recommended that you minimize contact with others and wear a mask if you must go out into the community.
Symptoms of 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 Covid-19 Management Team (CMT) via the Covid-19 Reporting Application.
CMT will follow up and provide guidance on whether isolation is required.
Faculty, Staff & Postdocs
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 and are 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.
If you are experiencing possible symptoms of Covid-19, you may call Student Wellness Services at (626) 395-6393 to schedule an appointment to get a Covid-19 PCR test. Please notify your supervisor of any absences from work due to illness. Reporting symptoms to the Covid-19 Management Team (CMT) via the Covid-19 reporting app is no longer required.
Symptoms of 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 Covid-19 Management Team ( CMT) 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 you may call (626) 395-3092.
Caltech continues to provide COVID-19 testing through the campus surveillance testing program 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 COVID19 test. (PCR Testing is not recommended for 90 days from your positive Covid-19 test).
A few reminders:
- Caltech community members can obtain 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 or the Covid-19 Management Team (CMT) at covid19@caltech.edu