Dear SDSU community,

We are proud to reinforce that COVID-19 cases connected to our San Diego State University community have been stable and low for the last six weeks. We have not seen any spikes among the broader student population since the start of the semester, and it remains true that no cases have been associated with any in-person instruction or research.

As San Diego County public health officials continue to monitor COVID-19 cases throughout the County, given regional and state-wide rate increases, we must all continue to take great care.

We encourage all members of our campus community to remain safe and to follow the public health guidelines and order currently in place, especially as Halloween is approaching.

Stay-at-Home Advisory to Go into Effect

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control highly discourages everyone from participating in Halloween or social activities where physical distancing cannot be maintained. San Diego County public health officials have also recently asked everyone to avoid in-person costume parties and also suggests alternative ways to safely celebrate Halloween.

To help mitigate COVID-19 cases within the SDSU student body, the university is reintroducing a temporary Stay-at-Home Advisory for students, no matter their location on or off campus.

Under the advisory, students are encouraged to stay home, with the exception of essential needs. The advisory will begin at 6 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 23, and will remain in effect through Monday, Nov. 2, at 6 a.m. During this period, students are invited to participate in any of the virtual events detailed below, as well as to otherwise leave their residences only to engage in essential functions: in support of academic activities or coursework, to go to work, obtain meals or medical care, or to vote.

Halloween-Related Virtual Events

In support of student engagement during the ongoing pandemic and during the Stay-at-Home Advisory period, SDSU is hosting virtual events and invite students to participate:

• The Saturday, Oct. 24, Aztec Nights: Fall Festival virtual event will include games, trivia and an interactive demonstration by pumpkin carver Tom Nardone. The event will be held 10 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Details and Zoom links are available on the event page online.
   
• From Thursday, Oct. 29, through Saturday, Oct. 31, the SDSU Alcohol and Other Drugs Task Force will be facilitating “Zoom into Halloween.” Members of SDSU’s student clubs and organizations who commit to hosting an event on one of those days between the hours of 6 p.m. and midnight will receive four $25 gift cards, which they can then use as a drawing during their hosted events. Additionally, up to two individuals who host each virtual event will receive a $25 gift card if they have at least 20 SDSU student participants! For more information, contact SDSU Health Educator Aaron Brown adbrown@sdsu.edu.
   
• The Saturday, Oct. 31 Aztec Nights: Halloween Spook-Tacular virtual event will be held 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. featuring a magic show, games, prizes, a costume context, and other activities. Students are invited to join via Zoom the night of the event.
   

Enforcement is Ongoing

We appreciate that the majority of our community is following the guidance. We must, unfortunately, again address reports of gatherings off campus — including one large, off-campus social event that reportedly drew dozens of students and others from the community one weekend earlier this month. These gatherings are out of compliance with SDSU’s conduct policies and the public health ordinance we must all follow, and which have the potential to result in others becoming sick.

It takes only one person, even one who is asymptomatic, to create a public health risk. As members of this community, and with the care of others in mind, we again ask you to avoid gatherings of any type that do not comply with public health guidelines.

We will continue to seek disciplinary action against those who willingly engage in behaviors that put themselves and others at risk of contracting COVID-19. Since Aug. 24, nearly 900 notices of alleged violations of COVID-19-related student code of conduct policies have been issued. Those found to be in violation face sanctions, including suspension and expulsion.

Thank You

We thank our county public health partners and credit our one SDSU community for the strong reduction in cases that we continue to see. We also appreciate the diligence of the many SDSU team members who are offering and facilitating testing, hosting alternatives to in-person activities, and enforcing policies meant for personal and community well-being.

To those who have become ill, we wish you a swift recovery. To all: please continue to wear a facial covering, maintain physical distance, wash your hands frequently and remain at home when you feel sick. As always, refer to the SDSU COVID-19 site for information and updates, including general prevention to protect yourself and others. Again, we thank you all.

Adela de la Torre, Ph.D.
San Diego State University President

J. Luke Wood, Ph.D.
Vice President for Student Affairs and Campus Diversity

Christian J. Holt
Associated Students President