The health and safety of Palomar College students and employees remains a priority. The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have relaxed its guidance for COVID-19, and continues to support COVID-19 vaccinations to prevent serious illness and death, as well as early treatment to reduce the severity of illness.
Employees: Continued Reporting & Responsibilities:
- Employers must continue reporting and tracking all employee COVID-19 cases through February 3, 2026.
- COVID-19 illness should be reported using the District’s Employee COVID-19 Self-Reporting Notice.
- Palomar will no longer provide employees with COVID-19 isolation periods, guidance, or exposure notifications. This guidance should be obtained from a medical professional or follow the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines.
- Employees should follow their department’s call-out procedures and notify their supervisor if they are unable to work due to illness, including COVID-19.
COVID-19 STATE REGULATION UPDATE
Effective February 3, 2025, the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) will sunset most of its COVID-19 prevention regulations. While certain requirements are sunsetting, the recordkeeping provisions will remain in effect until February 3, 2026. The District remains committed to prioritizing the health and well-being of our employees under the District’s Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP) while also adhering to the updated regulations.
KEY CHANGES INCLUDE:
- Notification of Exposure: Employers will no longer be required to inform employees of potential exposure due to close contact with a positive COVID-19 case.
- Outbreak Reporting and Tracking: Employers will no longer need to report or monitor COVID-19 outbreaks.
COVID-19 HOME ANTIGEN TEST KITS
Environmental Health & Safety/Risk Management (EHS/RM) no longer has a supply of test kits and is unable to schedule COVID-19 test distribution events.
COVID-19 Tests:
- Go to a testing site in your community
- Buy a self-test (at-home test) from a pharmacy, store, or online.
- If you have health insurance, it may cover the cost of the test.
*Most at-home tests can be safely used past the date on the box. Check the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website to see if your COVID-19 test expiration date has been extended.
COVID-19 testing resources:
- CDC Testing Resource webpage
- Private Insurance: Contact your medical insurance provider located on your medical ID card.
- Employees with medical insurance through Palomar College, visit the Benefits website for links to insurance providers.
VACCINATION RESOURCES
- Visit your personal medical provider.
- Students can visit Palomar’s Student Health Center.
- Visit the CDC Vaccine webpage
LEAVES
- Classified/Faculty: If you have questions regarding use of leaves, contact benefits@palomar.edu or call Benefits Office at 760-744-1150 x2889.
- Short-term/Adjunct: If you have questions regarding use of leaves, contact Payroll at payrolldepartment@palomar.edu or 760-744-1150 x2886.