Update on yellow tier status and other protocols

Santa Clara County is moving to the yellow “minimal” tier, which is the least-restrictive status in California’s COVID-19 framework, effective Wednesday, May 19, and also lifting many local requirements. San Mateo County moved to yellow on May 12.

Being in the yellow tier means greater capacity limits are allowed for certain activities and settings. Because of the improved conditions underlying the new status, Santa Clara County also changed local health orders, including a new requirement to determine employees’ vaccine status.

Relevant programs at Stanford are reviewing the latest guidance and will be providing updates to reflect any adjustments they make as a result. For example, Student Affairs has set out guidelines that will enable student organizations to host outdoor gatherings.

Other protocols, which are not associated with California’s color-coded system, also are changing.

Face coverings. Based on recent guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), California Department of Public Health (CDPH), and California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA), face covering requirements for fully vaccinated individuals at Stanford have been updated as posted on the Health Alerts website.

In line with state requirements, face coverings for fully vaccinated persons are not required outdoors, except when attending crowded outdoor events where physical distancing is difficult, such as live performances, sporting events, Commencement or other similar settings. Employees are still required to wear masks anytime they are within 6 feet of other individuals. Face coverings continue to be required in shared settings including lobbies, restrooms, common spaces, open indoor work settings and all university-sponsored meetings.

Travel. Our travel return policy, which was based on travel of more than 150 miles from Santa Clara or San Mateo counties, now applies only to travel outside the State of California. Updated guidance can be found here.

Also, conditions for university-sponsored travel for faculty, staff, graduate students and postdoctoral scholars have moved to the “limited travel” phase.

Vaccinations. In addition to the fall quarter vaccination requirements for students, faculty, staff and postdoctoral scholars announced earlier, all temporary community members (e.g., visiting scholars, researchers and external participants of residential summer programs) with a regular presence on campus starting June 21, 2021 will be required to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19. Click here for details.

Under Santa Clara County’s new rules, employers will be required to determine which staff are fully vaccinated because of changing workplace requirements for face coverings and physical distancing. Health Check has added an opportunity to disclose vaccination status, and we encourage individuals to provide this information if they have not already done so.

Stanford reviews and adjusts campus protocols as public health conditions and rules that apply to the university change.

We continue to urge members of the university community to continue following safety protocols and to be vaccinated for COVID-19. Click here for resources and links to vaccination providers.