Enhanced COVID-19 Safety Protocols

Protocols for January 2022 Return to Campuses

(Effective Jan 3. – Jan. 21, 2022 - Dates subject to change dependent on case positivity rate and CDC guidance.)

Given the continued rise of COVID cases across the US and the proliferation of the Omicron variant, the University is instituting immediate, but temporary, steps to help protect University of Redlands communities, to include the Marin campus and our regional sites,  will be in effect when the University reopens following winter break on January 3, 2022. 

What We Know About Omicron

As always, we will continue to use science and data from authoritative sources to guide our decision making.

  • Both scientific studies and real-world data has added to the evidence that Omicron is more (highly) contagious than any previous version of the COVID-19 virus.
  • One reason that Omicron seems to spread so quickly is that it causes more cases among the vaccinated than earlier variants, although they are likely to be mild. “There will be a lot of breakthrough cases,” Dr. Jennifer Lighter, an epidemiologist at N.Y.U. Langone Health.
  • Unvaccinated adults are at even greater risk than they were a few weeks ago.
  • Omicron presents only a very small risk of serious illness to most vaccinated people.
  • Omicron can evade antibodies produced either by vaccination or by infection with previous variants.
  • Booster doses of both the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines offer a substantial increase in protection against Omicron in early studies.
  • Omicron does not appear to cause more severe illness than earlier versions of the virus.
  • While Omicron is spreading rapidly, the Delta variant is still widespread, too.
Temporary Enhanced Safety Protocols

The following temporary protocol categories are based on the fact that Omicron is highly contagious and spreads quickly, including among those who are fully vaccinated. The mitigation strategies below are known to reduce spread and acknowledge that Omicron is behaving differently than any variant before it. Therefore, we have included items such as restrictions on eating in some public spaces when we did not do so previously.  Please download the document for full details.

  • General Protocols – For All Employees and Students
  • In Person Classes – All Programs, All Schools
  • Eating, Drinking, And Dining on Campuses
    • Redlands Campus Harvest Table Venues (All Venues Will Be Open)
    • Food And Beverage Consumption in Non-Dining Communal Spaces – All Campuses
  • Indoor Meetings, Events, & Gatherings - Employees and Students
  • Travel
  • External Client Meetings and Events (Non-Employee/Non-Student Events at Redlands and Marin Campuses)