Dear State Center Community,
For two-and-a-half years now, we have weathered the COVID pandemic together. It hasn’t always been easy, but we have been flexible, adapted to the changes, and embraced the necessary measures we’ve taken as a District to keep our students and employees healthy and safe. Thank you!
As I mentioned in my message to you last month, as conditions evolve, we will continue to adjust our protocols, guidelines, and resources as needed. Recently, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) announced that it is ending the COVID-19 policies that required weekly COVID-19 testing for unvaccinated and under-vaccinated workers in high-risk workplaces and K-12 schools.
Therefore, beginning Monday, October 3, 2022, I am suspending the State Center Community College District Vaccine Policy. Thus, SCCCD will suspend the testing requirement for unvaccinated employees and students.
The CDPH encouraged sites to "maintain testing capacity at their worksite and have the ability to ramp up testing at their worksite, in the event of outbreaks or if it is required again at a future date.” To that end, State Center will continue to offer free testing to anyone. In fact, we are introducing a new solution by which we will continue to provide free COVID testing to students and employees on each of our college campuses and at the district office; new Shield T3 PCR Test Kit Vending Machines. These vending machines are now located on each campus and will be ready for use on October 10.
The free COVID Testing Centers and drive-through testing for students and employees will come to a close on October 7. Testing will only be available through the vending machines.
On October 10, all employees and students who wish to make use of the free onsite testing option may visit one of the vending machines, which are located on each college campus and the district office at:
At each vending machine location, you will find instructions on how to use the machine, receive and register your test, and submit your test. Your test kit must be registered to receive your results. You will need a smartphone or mobile device to scan the QR code and log into your PNC account to use the vending machine. Please be sure to watch this video for more detailed instructions. Here are additional Vending Machine Instructions.
Very important: Tests can only be submitted between the hours of 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday – Wednesday, and 8:00 am to noon on Thursday. This ensures that the samples reach the laboratory for analysis within 56 hours of sample collection.
Test results will still be available the same way as they are now through the Point and Click (PNC) system. Remember, you cannot eat or drink anything, smoke, floss, use mouthwash, brush your teeth, or chew gum within 60 minutes prior to taking the test. Those who are symptomatic are encouraged to test elsewhere and not come on site.
We appreciate your help as we continue to keep our campuses healthy and safe. We hope this new system will make the testing process more convenient for you. According to the CDPH, “At present, 80% of Californians 12 years of age and older have completed their primary series of COVID-19 vaccines, and 48% have received their first booster dose" allowing Californians to return to a more normalized lifestyle.
We will continue to be vigilant and work with public health officials. We will stand ready to pause or reinstate a higher level of protective mitigation recommendations or requirements, if necessary, as health conditions evolve.
Again, thank you all for your patience, collaboration, and diligence. I am proud of the work we have done together to protect the health of each other, our families, and our students.
Sincerely,
Dr. Carole Goldsmith
Chancellor
