Jul 30, 2021

Dear campus community,

As we have all seen in recent news reports, COVID-19 cases are on the rise due to a highly contagious Delta variant. We are experiencing this upswing within our region and among the UCI community, having an impact on our patients, students and employees.

As a result, UCI will re-implement a universal masking policy effective August 2. All individuals on campus or at UCI health facilities will be required to wear a mask or face covering while indoors, regardless of vaccination status, except when alone in an enclosed space. This update is in line with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the California Department of Public Health‘s recent recommendations on masking and face coverings. Please refer to the revised Chancellor’s executive directive on face coverings for details.

While some would prefer not to wear a mask indoors, the health and safety of our community is always our primary concern. Most of those who get severely ill are not vaccinated, so we strongly urge all of you to get the COVID-19 vaccine. It is clear that the vaccine provides strong protection against illness, protecting the nearly 200 million people who have received at least one dose in the United States. And, as announced by the UC Office of the President on July 16, all students, faculty and staff must share proof of vaccination or receive an approved exception or deferral before returning to campus.

We will continue to evaluate the masking/face covering requirement based on community vaccination status, regional case counts and guidance from public health experts.

If you have been vaccinated, it is imperative that you upload your vaccination verification record as soon as possible.

Any employee or student who needs assistance obtaining a COVID-19 vaccine and/or uploading their vaccination record to the appropriate portal may contact Contact Tracing and Vaccine Navigation Services. They can be reached at (949) 824-2300 or contacttracing@uci.edu.

We appreciate your cooperation during this time and we will update you as quickly as possible when there is new information. Thank you for your understanding and for prioritizing the health of all our UCI community members. Please continue to take care of yourself and stay safe.

Sincerely,

Hal Stern
Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor
Chancellor’s Professor, Department of Statistics