Fall 2022 COVID-19 guidelines

Masks no longer a schoolwide requirement

ABIGAIL CAVIZO / NEWS EDITOR / THE USD VISTA

While USD acknowledged COVID-19 as an ongoing part of the community, University Operations now labels the pandemic as a personal responsibility. The COVID-19 vaccination and booster shot  are required to be on campus, however random testing is no longer a requirement. Student Health Center testing is available to  those exhibiting symptoms. If one tests positive, that individual should stay home, and they are personally responsible for informing professors and the people who they have been in contact with. One change between this year’s requirements and last year’s is the flexibility with masks. 

University Operations sent an email to the USD community outlining the updated policies for the Fall 2022 semester:

“The university continues to support and encourage campus community members to wear face coverings when they feel the need to do so,” University Operations said. “Faculty may require face coverings to be worn during their classes.”

In the previous year(s), masks were required in classrooms, libraries and labs. 

USD junior, Marco Jimenez, is grateful for the new guidelines, and is envious of first-year students because of the relaxed mask mandates. 

“I’m glad that the mandates are more relaxed, because —when I was a first-year — I remember how difficult it was, because of the strict guidelines,” Jimenez explained. “One toilet and one room per person, masks were required everywhere, and it was really difficult to make friends. I’m a bit jealous of the first years now, because I wish we could’ve gotten the events that they all get in the beginning.”

USD currently tracks the numbers of cases in San Diego County, which amount to  around 1,000 new cases per day. During the 2021-2022 school year, there were frequent spike in cases when students returned from breaks. If there was another outbreak of COVID-19 in San Diego County, USD could update their guidelines again. 

Whether or not USD changes its rules depends on the changing numbers of cases from the area. For now, it is up to USD community members to follow these rules in order to ensure a normal school year. COVID-19 cases are steady. In San Diego, there is no city-wide mask requirement, but businesses may insist on their customers wearing masks. People can also choose to wear them without the requirement. Likewise, these rules apply for the Fall 2022 semester at USD.

For more information, the USD Student Health Center, located in Maher Hall, is open for calls and questions, by phone at 619-260-4595 during business hours Monday-Friday, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., or emailed at usdhealthcenter@sandiego.edu.