Effective January 21, 2022:
- The GTU requires two vaccination shots to enter the Hewlett Building for classes or library use; in the coming months, a booster may be added to that requirement. Please continue to send your vaccination verification to vaccine@ses.gtu.edu. In compliance with California health regulations, masks are required in the Hewlett Building (through at least February 15). K95 or KN95 masks are preferred.
Effective December 15, 2021:
- In accordance with California's public health guidelines, face coverings are required inside a GTU building, irrespective of vaccination status. This requirement is in effect through January 15, 2022.
Effective August 3, 2021:
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According to the City of Berkeley’s health order, all employees, students, and guests at the GTU will be required to wear well-fitting masks in any indoor public setting, regardless of vaccination status. This order goes into effect at 12:01 am on Tuesday, August 3, and applies to anyone over the age of two.
Effective June 22, 2021:
- Social distancing is no longer required, except as mentioned above.
- Shields and dividers are no longer required. GTU’s facilities team will begin to remove those as their schedule permits.
- We have eliminated the floor monitor system. Employees are no longer required to check in with their monitor before they come onto campus. Instead, please continue to self-screen at home and if you have any symptoms, stay home, and notify your supervisor if you are unable to work.
- Employees and library patrons no longer need to sign in & out when entering and exiting the building. However, guests, contractors and vendors will still be required do so through September 2021, unless notified otherwise.
- Through December 2021, only consortium members will be allowed to physically enter the library to study, access texts and utilize library services.
What is the novel coronavirus (COVID-19)?
Coronaviruses are a subfamily of viruses that normally cause mild respiratory tract infections such as the common cold. The novel coronavirus (often just referred to as “coronavirus”) is a specific viral strain which causes the disease formally labeled Coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19. The virus appears to have begun with an animal-to-human transmission in Wuhan, China, sometime in December 2019.
What are the symptoms of the novel coronavirus?
Common symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and pneumonia. Less frequently, persons may experience other cold-like symptoms (sneezing, runny nose, or sore throat) or diarrhea. In rare cases, the virus can lead to organ failure and death.
How is the virus transmitted?
The virus is transmitted through close contact through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The virus has a typical incubation period of 2-14 days before symptoms develop and it is possible that it is transmitted when such symptoms are absent.
What health precautions should I take?
To avoid becoming infected or infecting others, please take the following steps:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick, and stay at home when you are sick.
- Cover your cough or sneeze. Try to do so with your elbow or a tissue rather than your hands.
- CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a facemask to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including COVID-19. Facemasks should be used by people who show symptoms of COVID-19, to help prevent the spread of the disease to others. The use of facemasks is also crucial for people who are taking care of someone in close settings (at home). Wearing a face mask may reduce the chances of spreading a respiratory virus. If you choose to wear a face mask, obtain one with a rating of N95 or higher and make sure it is tightly fitted to your face.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
Should I be tested for COVID-19?
Call your healthcare professional if you feel sick with fever, cough, or difficulty breathing, or if you have been in close contact with a person known to have COVID-19, or if you live in or have recently traveled from an area with ongoing spread of COVID-19. Full travel guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control are available here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/index.html
Air Filtration and Safety Protocols
As part of the GTU commitment to keep everyone safe and healthy, the air is filtered with a double filtration system in the library. In this extensive and thorough process, air is twice filtered for two hours before the building is opened and two hours after the building is closed. The air filtration system uses both MERV 11 and 14 filters which filter out particles as small as 1 micron (such as bacteria, most smoke, sneeze nuclei, insecticide dust, copier toner, and face powder). The filters are replaced every 6-8 months or as needed.
Updated January 24, 2021