COVID-19 Community Update – May 10

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The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health recently updated their Higher Education quarantine, isolation, and contact tracing rules, which Pepperdine is required to follow. The updates signify a shift from broad community mandates to individual personal responsibility, reflecting public health’s evolving pandemic response. 

Accordingly, the University is implementing the following changes, effective Tuesday, May 10, 2022:

Close Contacts and Quarantine 

The definition of a close contact has been generally broadened to those who “shared the same indoor airspace” with a COVID-19 positive case for 15 minutes or more in a 24-hour period. Under this definition in a college campus setting, “indoor airspace” includes, but is not limited to, classrooms, offices, and other similarly sized spaces. In large indoor spaces, close contacts are only those within six feet of a COVID-19-positive individual for 15 minutes or more within a 24-hour period. At Pepperdine, this includes spaces such as the cafeteria, the libraries, and large lecture halls. 

Close contacts, regardless of vaccination status, are not required to quarantine as long as they remain asymptomatic. However, all close contacts are required to wear a mask for 10 days from their exposure while around others indoors unless actively eating or drinking. Close contacts are also required to test three to five days after their exposure. 

Contact Tracing

Contact tracing notifications will change to reflect the updated close contact definition. Close contacts identified through the new “shared indoor airspace” definition will be emailed regarding their exposure by contact tracers. Close contacts, defined as being within six feet of the COVID-19 positive individual for 15 minutes or more, will be called by contact tracers.  

The University will continue to move through the pandemic together and, with your cooperation in following these protocols, help protect the health of the University community. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the University’s COVID-19 information line at 310.506.8111 or covid19info@pepperdine.edu.

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