COVID-19 Information
COVID-19 Health and Safety Procedures
As evolving COVID variants spread and we enter the respiratory diseases season, please review American River College's COVID-19 procedures to keep yourself and our community healthy.
Reporting Positive Cases
If a student or employee tests positive for COVID-19, they should remain home and use the Interactive Decision Chart for guidance. If they have been at a Los Rios campus or work site within 48 hours of testing positive, then they should report their positive test through the COVID Reporting Form (Appendix C).
Instructors and supervisors: when in doubt, please submit the COVID Reporting Form (Appendix C) on the student or staff member's behalf.
Interactive Decision Chart
This interactive form is for employees or students who have been exposed to COVID-19 or received a positive COVID test result and need to know what to do next.
COVID Reporting Form
Submit the COVID Reporting Form (Appendix C) if you tested positive for COVID-19 and you were on campus within 48 hours of when symptoms began or your positive test collection date.
Contact Tracing
When a COVID Reporting Form (Appendix C) is submitted and there is an identified exposure on a campus or work site, exposure notices will be sent to the identified close contacts.
Student Cases
When instructors are notified of a positive student COVID case, they must follow the 2023-24 Student COVID Management Process Tree and use the Notification Templates for Students.
Employee Cases
When supervisors are notified of a positive employee COVID case, they must follow the 2023-24 Employee COVID Management Process Tree and use the Notification Templates for Employees.
Any student who reports having tested positive for COVID-19 and is symptomatic should be asked to leave the class immediately. Instruct the student to follow the guidance on the Interactive Decision Chart and submit a COVID Reporting Form (Appendix C). Follow the steps outlined in the 2023-24 Student COVID Management Process Tree. Faculty or staff should contact their division dean or supervisor within 24 hours of being notified. The dean or supervisor will initiate the contact tracing protocols that we have in place.
Any student who reports COVID-19 exposure should complete the COVID-19 Interactive Decision Chart and follow all directions provided.
If individuals are sick with COVID symptoms, then they should stay home and take a COVID test. Follow the COVID-19 Interactive Decision Chart for next steps and guidance on when to return.
Employees and students will be notified of a known COVID-19 exposure and provided guidance on next steps.
No. Faculty with questions or concerns about a specific course should contact their dean, who will work with the college vice president of instruction on appropriate next steps based on current COVID protocols.
Cal/OSHA regulations require that employers implement a site-specific, written COVID-19 prevention program to address COVID-19 health hazards, correct unsafe or unhealthy conditions, and provide face coverings. The Los Rios COVID-19 Prevention Procedures include:
- Identifying and evaluating employee exposures to COVID-19 health hazards
- Implementing effective policies and procedures to correct unsafe and unhealthy conditions (such as safe physical distancing, modifying the workplace, and staggering work schedules)
- Providing and ensuring workers wear face coverings to prevent exposure in the workplace
- Provide effective training and instruction to employees on how COVID-19 is spread, infection prevention techniques, and information regarding COVID-19-related benefits that affected employees may be entitled to under applicable federal, state, or local laws
- Read the Cal/OSHA COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standards – What Employers Need to Know
Self-Check for Symptoms and Stay Home When Sick
Self-check for any of the following symptoms each day: fever (100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher), chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, and diarrhea. This list does not include all possible symptoms. To learn more about symptoms, visit the Centers for Disease Control.
If you are sick or are experiencing symptoms, then stay home and take a COVID test. Use the Interactive Decision Chart for guidance and submit the COVID Reporting Form (Appendix C) if needed.
All Los Rios employees were provided supplemental COVID-19 leave effective January 1, 2022, through June 30, 2023. For eligible employees, up to 40 hours of COVID leave was available for absences related to getting a COVID-19 vaccination or booster shot, or missing work due to symptoms. An additional 40 hours of COVID leave was available for employees who tested positive for COVID and were unable to work, or for employees whose family members tested positive for COVID (which then prevented the employee from working).
Beginning July 1, 2023, employees should use Illness leave for COVID-related absences, or, if caring for a family member, Personal Necessity (PRN) leave.
| Reason for Leave | Type of Leave to Use |
|---|---|
| Advised to quarantine by doctor/District: Asymptomatic | Illness |
| Advised to quarantine by doctor/District: Symptomatic | Illness |
| Vaccine/Booster Appointment (self) | Illness |
| Symptoms or reaction to vaccine/booster (self) | Illness |
| Caring for a family member advised to quarantine | Personal Necessity |
| Caring for a family member with COVID symptoms | Personal Necessity |
| Child's school or daycare closed due to COVID | Personal Necessity |
| Caring for a family member who had a reaction to a vaccine/booster | Personal Necessity |
COVID Tests
Free antigen at-home tests are available to students and employees through a variety of resources. Individuals should test when they experience symptoms or learn of a COVID exposure. Testing helps identify positive cases and limits spreading COVID to others.
Locations and Hours
- American River College Health and Wellness Center, Monday through Thursday from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm
- Cosumnes River College Health and Wellness Center, Monday through Thursday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
- Folsom Lake College Health and Wellness Center, Monday through Thursday from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm
- Sacramento City College Health and Wellness Center, Monday through Thursday from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
Beginning September 25, 2023, every US household can order four free COVID-19 rapid tests delivered directly to their home by visiting covid.gov/tests.
At-home tests are available through healthcare providers and local pharmacies. Most healthcare providers will reimburse patients for tests purchased at pharmacies. Visit the California Department of Public Health Find a Testing Site website.
Before you throw out "expired" tests, check to see if your COVID-19 tests' expiration dates have been extended.
Vaccines
CDPH recommends that all eligible persons receive the COVID vaccine as soon as possible. American River College will provide current COVID vaccine information and will host campus-based COVID vaccine clinics when the vaccine is available through state and/or county public health departments. Visit the CDPH COVID vaccines website for more information.
No, there is currently no vaccine requirement.
Consistent with guidance from local public health experts, we strongly recommend wearing masks and appropriate face coverings when indoors. We also strongly recommend that everyone eligible continue to stay up-to-date on their COVID-19 vaccine and booster regimens.
Visit the Sacramento County vaccine website to learn about local vaccine availability. This website is updated frequently with information about eligibility and vaccine sites in your area, including how to access vaccines via healthcare providers.
You can also visit the State of California's MyTurn website if you do not live in Sacramento County or you want more information about eligibility.
On-Campus Vaccine Clinics
There are no upcoming vaccination clinics scheduled on campus at this time.
Face Masks and PPE
Masks are strongly recommended for all students, employees, and visitors in any indoor space, regardless of vaccination status. For outdoor activities, masks are always permissible and anyone who feels safer or more comfortable wearing a face-covering outdoors is encouraged to do so. American River College will provide face masks to individuals who want them at no cost.
We expect that employees and students will continue to wear masks in the following situations:
- Individuals who are symptomatic and on campus to pick up a free COVID test should continue to wear a mask.
- Individuals who were recently exposed to a positive COVID case are recommended to wear a mask for ten days.
- Students who have tested positive for COVID and who return to campus should continue to wear a mask through day ten.
- Staff who return from isolation are required to wear a face covering around others through day ten, per Cal/OSHA.
Masks and other PPE are available via the Operations Department. At American River College, contact Operations at (916) 484-8300 or visit Maintenance Connection.
If you choose to wear a mask, then we strongly recommend wearing surgical masks or higher-level respirator N95 or KN95 masks instead of cloth masks or other face-coverings that provide less protection. Read the California Department of Public Health's latest guidance on masks and face coverings.
Scarfs, ski masks, balaclavas, bandanas, turtlenecks, collars, or single layers of fabric are not acceptable face coverings, as they do not provide adequate protection from the COVID-19 virus. Additionally, face shields should not be used in lieu of masks.
Ventilation and Sanitation
American River College is providing ventilation in classrooms and shared workspaces per the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE).
COVID mitigation measures to prepare our facilities primarily involve building ventilation and air filtration systems, but Facilities Management (FM) would also do a full HVAC system functions test and inspection for each building prior to occupancy.
Before the pandemic, we already regularly performed these system checks throughout the year, typically coinciding with filter replacements (every four months). Now, we will perform additional checks before reopening facilities. These checks help ensure systems are performing the necessary CDC/ASHRAE recommended air exchanges and sufficient outside fresh air is being pulled into the buildings.
Before reopening a facility, we will also verify that we can remotely communicate with the building's HVAC controls through the District's Energy Management System (EMS).
Read Making Our Buildings Resilient During COVID-19 to learn more.
We use the CDC-recommended American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) standards. Read Making Our Buildings Resilient During COVID-19 to learn more.
All buildings that are currently occupied have MERV-13 filters, the industry standard for COVID-19 mitigation. MERV-13 filters are recommended because they can trap smaller particles, including viruses, and are equivalent to N95 masks with regards to protection and air quality.
In the event a building's HVAC system cannot accommodate the MERV-13 filters, we are performing additional building "flushing" two hours prior and two hours after occupancy as recommended by CDC/ASHRAE for these situations. As more buildings open to accommodate more people coming to campus, we will perform HVAC system checks and filter changes prior to occupancy.
Hand and Respiratory Hygiene
Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer frequently. When sneezing, use a tissue when possible or sneeze into your elbow.
