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Updated March 24, 2023
Washington, Clackamas, Multnomah, and Columbia counties are at a low community level of COVID-19 per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC guidelines for communities with low levels are:
- Stay up-to-date on vaccines
- Get tested if you have symptoms
- Take additional precautions if you are at risk for severe illness
PCC follows the guidelines of local public health departments. PCC does not require the use of facemasks while indoors at PCC locations. While not required, they are strongly encouraged. We ask that our community respect the choice of colleagues and students who keep their masks on. We also respectfully request that faculty, staff, and students respect the choice of others who do not wish to wear a mask.
PCC is committed to reducing and preventing cases of COVID-19. The information on this site focuses on basic prevention and the notification responsibilities of all members of the PCC community to ensure the safety of students, faculty, and staff, coming to PCC. This information is subject to change in keeping with the most current information and guidance available.
Translated isolation and close contact instructions:
If you test positive for COVID-19 or have symptoms of COVID-19
Stay home and isolate from other people for at least 5 full days regardless of vaccination status. The day you first developed symptoms, or tested positive if you didn’t develop symptoms, is Day Zero. The next day is Day One. You should isolate up to and including Day Five.
If on Day Six you have been fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and your other symptoms are improving you may leave your home and return to work or classes provided you wear a facemask around others and maintain social distancing for an additional five days. That is up to and including ten days from the date you first reported symptoms.
If on Day Six you continue to have a fever or your other symptoms have not improved you should remain in isolation until you are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and your other symptoms have improved. Again, continue to wear a well-fitting mask and contact your healthcare provider if you have any questions.
If you have been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19
Current public health guidelines do not require close contacts to COVID cases to quarantine unless you have COVID-19 symptoms yourself. These same guidelines do recommend that all close contacts, regardless of vaccination status or prior infection with COVID-19 to:
- Watch for COVID-19-like symptoms for 10 days after their last exposure.
- Stay home and get tested if symptoms develop.
- Wear a well-fitting mask around other people for the 10 days following their last exposure.
- Avoid unnecessary visits with high-risk individuals (e.g., residents of congregate-care facilities, persons with immunocompromising conditions, etc.)
- Get tested on Day 6 or as soon as possible thereafter.
If at any time you develop COVID-19 symptoms or test positive for the virus: you should stay home and self-isolate for an additional 5-day period and until you are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and your other symptoms have improved. Again, continue to wear a well-fitting mask and contact your healthcare provider if you have any questions.
Guiding principles for thoughtful return
In order to support planning for the complex transition that we will face in 2022-23, the view PCC’s guiding principles to inform our planning and decision-making.
Responsibilities for coming to campus
Before arriving at PCC, you must review each of the following procedures. View services available in person.
Perform a daily self-check
Only come to PCC if you are healthy. PCC students, staff, and faculty should conduct a self-check for COVID-19 symptoms before coming to a PCC location. If you have any COVID-19 signs and symptoms, or have tested positive for COVID-19, regardless of your vaccination status, do not report to campus.
People with these symptoms may have COVID-19:
- Fever or chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- New loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
Learn more about COVID-19 symptoms at the CDC website.
Facemasks
Effective June 20, 2022, PCC will no longer require that face masks be worn in classrooms, offices, and most other public and private indoor spaces at PCC sites. Consistent with Oregon Health Authority (OHA) regulations, face masks will still be required at PCC sites that are considered health care settings. This includes the Dental Clinic and Counseling Offices.
Some people in our PCC community may feel more comfortable continuing to wear a mask. This is a personal decision that we wholeheartedly support. We ask that our community respect the choice of colleagues and students who keep their masks on. We also respectfully request that faculty, staff, and students respect the choice of others who do not wish to wear a mask.
If you choose to wear a facemask:
- Wash your hands before putting on your face covering.
- Put it over your nose and mouth and secure it under your chin.
- Try to fit it snugly against the sides of your face.
- Make sure you can breathe easily.
PCC will make facemasks available upon request.
Physical distancing
While not required, employees, students, and other members of the PCC community are encouraged to maintain social distancing to the greatest extent possible.
Wash your hands
Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use a 60% or higher alcohol-based hand sanitizer as needed. Soap and water will be available in all restrooms, and hand sanitizer stations can be found in high-use areas such as entrances to buildings and classrooms, as feasible.
Respiratory etiquette is also very important. You should cover coughs and sneezes with an elbow, or a tissue. Tissues should be disposed of and hands washed or sanitized immediately.
Accommodations
If an individual has a medical or disability-related reason for not being able to meet COVID-19 health and safety protocols and administrative procedures they should contact aedr@pcc.edu (students) and adacoordinator@pcc.edu (employees) to request an accommodation before visiting a PCC facility. Individuals are highly encouraged to seek accommodations if necessary, before entering a PCC facility.
If an individual, in good faith, states that they are aware of the protocols and administrative procedures and meet the requirements for a disability-related accommodation, they should not have their access or participation in PCC’s programs, activities, or services limited (or denied) based on not complying with COVID-19-related protocols and administrative procedures. Individuals who have previously been determined not to have a medical or disability-related reason for not complying with COVID-19-related protocols and administrative procedures must follow all applicable protocols and procedures.
PCC is required to permit remote instruction/telework or make other reasonable accommodations for students and employees who are at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19. Each situation will be evaluated individually to determine how reasonable accommodation can be made, and whether it has to be in person or whether it could be done remotely.
Handling COVID-19 symptoms at PCC locations
Exposure response FAQ
Find answers on how PCC handles exposure responses on campus.
Students, staff, and faculty members developing or reporting primary COVID-19 symptoms while at PCC locations should:
- Immediately leave the PCC location, or be isolated from the area, until they can safely leave. If in need of immediate medical care, call 4444 if on campus, or 911 if not on campus if an ambulance is needed, or go to a hospital if able to do so.
- Test for COVID-19 either via a home test or clinical test. Seek medical attention if necessary. If positive, follow current public health guidelines regarding isolation.
- If the person tests negative, or they do not take any tests, they should remain at their place of residence until 24 hours after the fever is gone, without the use of fever-reducing medicine and other symptoms are improving.
If circumstances allow, employees may be permitted to work from home during self-quarantine.
PCC Facilities and Management Services (FMS) has procedures for cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting surfaces during the COVID pandemic. Areas, where the symptomatic individual(s) attended class or work, will be cleaned according to FMS procedures.
Isolation methods include:
- Have the person put on a face covering;
- Have the person move outdoors, if possible, and remain at least six feet from others;
- Have the person move to an unoccupied indoor area and remain at least six feet from others.
If you suspect you have COVID-19
If you have been to a PCC campus or center while you may have been contagious for COVID-19, please notify the COVID-19 Reporting Team at covidreporting@pcc.edu.
Have a question?
If you have any questions about the topics listed above or on any topic relating to COVID-19, please email covidquestions@pcc.edu.