Update on COVID-19 Cases Related to SMC | Where to Look for Information

The following email was sent college-wide to Santa Monica College students & employees from SMC Superintendent/President Dr. Kathryn E. Jeffery.

Dear SMC Colleagues:

Today we received confirmed medical reports that a Santa Monica College student—whose last presence on campus (March 18) is past the 14-day incubation period for the virus—has tested positive for COVID-19. In keeping with the protocols for infectious disease response, anyone identified within the SMC community as being at risk of exposure from these individuals would be notified if they need to be isolated or tested; no notifications and no special precautions are required related to this latest case.

Future Reporting of Cases Related to SMC

As testing for COVID-19 becomes increasingly available, more cases concerning SMC employees and students who have not been physically present on any college campus or in a college facility may be reported. If a reported case is identified by SMC’s Health Office as having direct impact on the health of essential personnel who are still reporting to work, or if new cases put any SMC community member at risk of exposure, requiring them to be isolated or tested, we will communicate with you. Any reported COVID-19 cases that do not fall into these categories will be posted on the smc.edu/coronavirus webpage (please check the “STATUS” sentence at the very top for the most current update). 

Past Cases Reported to SMC

March 23: Two students. One was off-campus at East Los Angeles College as part of a partnership academic program, and has not been on any SMC campus since Spring 2019. The other was last at SMC March 4. 

March 19: The student was last on campus March 12. All faculty, staff, and students who may have had contact with the student were notified and directed to self-quarantine until March 26.

For more information and resources, please go to the dedicated COVID-19 SMC webpage. Be sure to review the resources. The most reliable source of COVID-19 information related to Los Angeles is the LA County Department of Public Health.
Please continue to stay safe and healthy,

Dr. Kathryn E. Jeffery, SMC Superintendent/President

Dr. Susan Fila, SMC Director of Health and Wellbeing