COVID-19 Information For Students

As part of MiraCosta College’s safe, steady, and sustainable approach to COVID-19 protocols and procedures, MiraCosta College will proceed with the following as it relates to COVID-19 mask policy, vaccination, and case protocol.

Mask Policy

Effective May 11, 2023, the CDC eliminated its “COVID-19 Community Levels” and as a result, the CDPH sunset its previous guidance. Wearing a mask is not mandated by the district and it is up to individual risk assessment. The district recommends the following mask protocols indoors, consistent with current CDPH guidance:

If you test positive for COVID-19, masking for 10 days is recommended.
If you believe you were exposed and will be in contact with someone who is higher risk, consider wearing a mask.
If you are at higher-risk of becoming severely ill, consider wearing a mask when you are in an indoor public setting with poor ventilation, or when you are travelling on public transportation.

Vaccination Requirement

Students and community members present on a MiraCosta College facility are not required to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

Up-to-date Vaccination

In San Diego County, more than 80% of the eligible population have been vaccinated since vaccines were available; as of January 13, 2024, approximately 13% of the eligible population is up-to-date with a COVID-19 vaccine. For information regarding COVID-19 doses, eligibility, and timelines, please visit the CDPH COVID-19 Vaccine Page.

Please visit the San Diego County COVID-19 Vaccination Site for information regarding local vaccine information and locations.

Student Health Services organizes vaccine events on campus every semester. The events include COVID-19 and influenza vaccines (influenza vaccines are available during flu season October-March). The costs have been completely free to all with no insurance and are for students, employees, family, and community members. Please reach out to Health Services for updates.

COVID-19 Case Protocol

Students should *not* come to campus when exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms and should rapid antigen test as a precaution. Regardless of the test result, students may return to campus once they are fever-free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medications, and symptoms have improved. Returning positive students should wear a mask indoors for 10 days. You can access a list of the symptoms associated with COVID-19 on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website. Students who test positive but have no symptoms may come to campus, but should wear a mask for 10 days.

If students test positive for COVID-19 and have symptoms, they should report their cases to each instructor. Instructors will file a CARE Referral Form on the student’s behalf. They may also reach out to Student Health Services at 760.795.6675 or mccshs@miracosta.edu for questions regarding care and testing resources. Health Services will provide isolation instructions and a return-to-campus timeline based on most recent CDPH guidance. Students should isolate a minimum of 24 hours and wear a mask indoors for at least 10 days. If necessary, exposure notifications will be sent by the COVID Response Team to students & employees exposed, without revealing any personal identifying information to protect the COVID-19 case’s privacy.

Individuals are not required to isolate from potential exposure, per current CDPH guidance. Individuals should monitor for symptoms and wear a mask indoors for 10 days from date of close contact exposure. Individuals should consider rapid antigen testing if they are higher-risk or will be in contact with higher-risk people. Individuals who have recovered from COVID-19 within the last 30 days do not need to test or take additional actions unless they develop symptoms. Students may reach out to Health Services regarding testing resources.