Employee Safety
What Steps Is The District Taking To Prevent The Spread Of COVID-19?
The District is following all of the recommendations from the CDC, Cal/OSHA, and San Diego County Public Health Services. The District COVID Prevention Plan, per Cal/OSHA, is updated based on these recommendations.
Positive Test & Isolation Rules
For return-to-campus rules, the District follows CDPH & Cal/OSHA’s isolation protocol. Positive COVID-19 cases with symptoms should stay home until they are fever free for at least 24 hours without fever-reducing medication and symptoms have improved. Positive COVID-19 cases without symptoms are not required to isolate. A return-to-campus timeline is sent to the employee by the COVID Response Team.
COVID-positive employees should wear a mask indoors for a 10 days; they may eliminate the mask requirement if they are able to rapid antigen test negative twice 24 hours apart. Employees must keep their supervisor up-to-date with their status throughout the timeline.
Exposure Notification Rules
Employees receive an e-mail notice if it is learned they had confirmed close contact during the time where the COVID-19 case may have been infectious, defined as starting within 2 days of symptom start. Close contact is defined by Cal/OSHA as:
- In indoor spaces of 400,000 or fewer cubic feet per floor, sharing the same indoor airspace as a COVID-19 case for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period during the COVID-19 case's infectious period, regardless of the use of face coverings.
- In indoor spaces of greater than 400,000 cubic feet per floor, as being within six feet of the COVID-19 case for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period during the COVID-19 case's infectious period, regardless of the use of face coverings.
- Offices, suites, rooms, waiting areas, break or eating areas, bathrooms, or other spaces that are separated by floor-to-ceiling walls shall be considered distinct indoor spaces.
Authorized representatives additionally receive a close contact notice regardless of whether they were at the worksite at the time of exposure.
Close contacts are recommended by the California Department of Public Health to rapid antigen test right away if they have symptoms. Close contacts without symptoms do not need to test. However, they should consider testing within 5 days if they are at higher-risk or will be in contact with people who are higher-risk.
Close contacts do not need to isolate unless they develop symptoms. Close contacts should wear a mask indoors for 10 days from date of potential contact. If close contacts who were exposed at work wish to test and need at-home rapid antigen tests, please contact the COVID Response Team or Risk & Safety Manager Justin Crast. People who have recovered from COVID-19 within the past 30 days do not need to test or take any additional precautions unless they develop symptoms.
If you are experiencing any symptoms associated with COVID-19, contact your direct supervisor immediately and do not physically report to the worksite. You can access a list of the symptoms associated with COVID-19 on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website.
Please note that due to privacy rules, the District is not permitted to reveal any identifying information about the affected individuals.
Testing
During a major outbreak at work, all employees from the exposed worksites are provided testing at no cost & during paid time. Major outbreaks are defined by Cal/OSHA as having 20 or more cases within 30 days amongst an exposed group.
Confirmed close contacts at work are also provided testing at no cost & during paid time from single cases.
Tests can be self-administered and self-read (i.e. an at home test).
Employees who have close contact at work, or are part of a major outbreak, may contact the @COVID Response Team or Risk & Safety Manager @Justin Crast for testing resources.
What Do I Do If A Student Notifies Me That They Tested Positive For COVID-19?
If a student discloses that they tested positive for COVID-19 and have symptoms, please thank the student for sharing and let them know that as part of MiraCosta’s Culture of Care, you want to connect them to available resources and support. Let the student know that they will be contacted by student support services. Then, please submit a CARE Referral Form as soon as possible. Health Services will reach out to the student to provide support and assess for next steps. If you have additional questions or concerns, please reach out to the Risk & Safety Manager, Justin Crast, at jcrast@miracosta.edu.
What Do I Do If An Employee Informs Me They Have Been Diagnosed With COVID-19?
In the event the employee is not at work when they receive the news:
- Direct the employee to stay at home if they have symptoms
- They are not to return to work until the criteria to discontinue home isolation are met, in consultation with healthcare providers and state and local health departments
- Recommend they follow the CDPH Isolation Guidance
- Notify the COVID Response Team at COVID@miracosta.edu.
In the unlikely event the employee is at work when the employee receives the news:
- Send the employee home immediately if they have symptoms
- They are not to return to work until the criteria to discontinue home isolation are met, in consultation with healthcare providers and state and local health departments
- Recommend they follow the CDPH Isolation Guidance
- Notify the COVID Response Team at COVID@miracosta.edu.
Pay And Leaves
Supplemental Paid Sick Leave expired at the end of 2022 and is no longer available. Exclusion pay related to being excluded from work due to COVID-19 has also expired. If an employee must isolate or quarantine from work due to COVID-19 illness, they may still be eligible for certain benefits. Employees should contact Human Resources.
What Options Are Available For COVID-19 Related Absences?
What If I Am Unsure About My Leave Accruals Or Eligibility?
You may access information about your available leave balances in Workday. Please log in to the system and search "Time Off Balance" to find out your available leave balances. Please contact the Human Resources Department at hr_department@miracosta.edu if you have questions about leave eligibility.
