Dear Peralta Community,

Per our policy to follow Alameda County Public Health Department guidelines, and based on discussions with union leaders, it is agreed that in January 2023 masks will become optional on Peralta Community College District (PCCD) property and will no longer be required. People may choose to mask at any time. Some caveats apply:

• Faculty members can require masks to be worn in their class provided that requirement is included in the course syllabus.
• An individual with a personal office can require others to wear a mask when in that person’s individual office space.

Effective immediately, masks are no longer required when outdoors on Peralta Community College District grounds. PCCD remains committed to protecting the health and safety of students and employees on our campuses. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, and as outlined in the PCCD COVID-19 Prevention Plan (CPP), we have been following the guidance of the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), California Department of Public Health (CDPH), and the Alameda County Public Health Department (ACPHD).

Alameda County requires masks to be worn indoors when the COVID-19 Community Level is medium or high but that is not the case currently in Alameda County, where the level is low. Per CDC and ACPHD guidelines, when the community level is low, people may choose to mask at any time.

People with symptoms, a positive test, or exposure to someone with COVID-19 should stay at home and not come onto campus. Should circumstances change in Alameda County we will let you know but for now, the Peralta Community College District remains fully in alignment with CDC, CDPH, and ACPHD recommendations by making masks optional on our campuses beginning January 2023.

As always, for the latest information on COVID-19 at the Peralta Community College District, please visit the Safe Peralta website at https://safe.peralta.edu.

Thank you and be well,

Dr. Ronald McKinley
Interim Vice Chancellor of Human Resources and Employee Relations