COVID-19 Operating Guidelines

La Jolla Institute closely follows public health orders issued by San Diego County and California public health officials to prevent the spread of COVID-19. 

Update June 17, 2021:

Effective Monday, June 21, 2021, the following guidelines go into effect and apply to all LJI employees until further notice:

Face masks

  • Fully vaccinated individuals are free to choose whether they would like to wear a face mask or not while inside the building.  

You are considered fully vaccinated if you have received 2 doses of either the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine or a single dose of the J&J vaccine at least 14 days prior, and have submitted proof of vaccination to HR. For individuals vaccinated outside the United States, the vaccine has to be listed for emergency use by the World Health Organization (WHO).

  • Unvaccinated individuals are required to wear a face mask indoors unless they are in a private office or outside with at least 6ft distance. 

The Institute will provide N95 masks to all unvaccinated individuals at their request. Please contact Maddie McMurray for a fitting. An N95 mask is not required, unvaccinated individuals can choose whether they wear a regular face mask or an N95.

Please note: Whether someone is wearing a face mask could be related to a variety of reasons and does not signal their vaccination status. Any harassment, discrimination or retaliation related to an individual’s assumed vaccination status will not be tolerated. 

Social distancing:

All labs, cores and administrative departments can resume operations at full capacity without any physical distancing requirements. 

OASIS

  • Fully vaccinated individuals are no longer required to submit saliva samples to the OASIS screening program but must scan their QR code when entering the building. HR will make the necessary adjustments to extend your QR code indefinitely. 
  • Unvaccinated individuals have to submit a saliva sample to the OASIS screening program at least once a week.  Collections will be done on Mondays and Thursdays.

Please note: Unvaccinated individuals who fail to submit a timely OASIS sample are NOT ALLOWED into the building until they have received a negative screening result. 

Temperature scan

Everyone, including visitors, has to undergo a temperature scan when entering the building regardless of their vaccination status. 

In person meetings:

In-person meetings, including lab meetings and seminars, can resume without limits on the number of participants per room. Unvaccinated individuals have to wear a face mask. 

Visitors

All visitors (contractors, service providers, vendors, speakers, external core users, etc.) are allowed. 

  • Pre-approval for visitors by Operations is no longer needed.
  • Visitors are no longer required to participate in the OASIS screening program.
  • Fully vaccinated visitors have to provide proof of vaccination to HR in advance of their visit and will receive a QR code, which grants them entry without a face mask. Please email proof of vaccination to hr@lji.org or text 858.248-0390.
  • Unvaccinated visitors will have to wear a face mask while at LJI.
  • Hosts are responsible for ensuring that visitors comply with LJI visitor guidelines. 

Food

Lunch rooms are fully reopened without any limits on occupancy. Fully vaccinated individuals can eat together whether inside or outside. Those not fully vaccinated may eat with colleagues when outside but need to physically distance themselves. 

Travel

All LJI-stated travel restrictions are lifted. Please keep in mind that many international restrictions remain in place. 

Return to work

Although child care and other issues remain, all employees are strongly encouraged to return to work on-site more frequently. A comprehensive Return-to-Work plan is under consideration right now and we will share details as soon as they become available. 

If you have any questions or concerns, please refer to Frequently Asked Questions or email covid-19@lji.org.

We are looking forward to seeing you back at LJI soon,
The CPC

Please email covid-19@lji.org if you have any questions or concerns.

FAQ

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While we strongly encourage LJI employees to get vaccinated against COVID-19, it is currently not a requirement in order to work at LJI.

If you are not vaccinated, you have to submit a weekly saliva sample to the OASIS screening program and wear a face mask indoors.  If you fail to submit a saliva sample in a timely manner you will not be allowed into the building until you have submitted your sample to OASIS AND received a negative screening result. 

Yes. Everyone entering the building has to pass the temperature screening. 

If you are vaccinated and have come in close contact with a COVID-19 positive person you can come to work as long as you are symptom-free. Please report any COVID-like symptoms to hr@lji.org. 

If you are not fully vaccinated and have been exposed to a COVID-19 positive individual, you have to quarantine at home for 7 days, starting the day after last exposure (count starts after sick household members tests negative or has been symptom-free for at least 48 hours). Please notify hr@lji.org for further instructions.

If you are feeling sick or unwell, you need to stay home until you are symptom-free. Please contact hr@lji.org if you have any questions.

Fully vaccinated individuals can share food and eat together whether inside or outside. Those not fully vaccinated may eat with colleagues outside but need to physically distance themselves.

Labs and common areas across campus will continue to be cleaned frequently. Private offices are also regularly cleaned. Those who do not want cleaning personnel to enter their office need to notify ops@lji.org.

Visitor Policy

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All visitors are allowed without prior approval by Operations. Fully vaccinated visitors are not required to wear a face mask. Visitors who are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19 have to wear a face mask at all times while at LJI.

Visitors have to provide proof of vaccination to hr@lji.org prior to their arrival. Upon their arrival, they will receive a QR code sticker at the front desk, which will grant them entry without a face mask. Hosts are responsible for ensuring that visitors comply with the LJI visitor policy. 

Return to Work

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We are currently developing a comprehensive return-to-work policy, which will take into account that many LJI employees have worked efficiently from home during the last 15 months.