Update, March 30, 10:10 p.m.:

A message from Mt. SAC President William Scroggins sent on the night of March 30 announced that a second employee of the college tested positive for COVID-19. This employee in particular was last on campus March 19, the last day the campus was open before it closed due to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s stay at home order. Scroggins stated that the employee developed symptoms starting March 26 and learned that they had tested positive on March 30.

According to the announcement, they “believe there is no increased risk to the college community.”

Update, March 28, 1:30 p.m.:

Due to a Mt. SAC employee testing positive for COVID-19, the campus is now closed until April 1, with no exceptions. Return trips will not be approved until Wednesday.

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On the afternoon of March 28, 2020, Mt. SAC President William Scroggins sent a message announcing that an employee of the college had tested positive for the coronavirus, known as COVID-19, and had been hospitalized on March 27. In the message, Scroggins stated that the college had received notification of this the evening of March 27.

According to the message, the employee was last on campus on March 17 in building 9B. Building 9B houses student services such as counseling, financial aid and admissions and records, as well as the transfer center, assessment center and the international student center. The employee first reported symptoms on March 19, which was the last day the campus was open before its closure due to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s statewide stay at home order.

The message did not specify if the employee was a student worker, faculty member, classified employee or a management employee. It is also unclear if the employee worked in an office within building 9B.

Scroggins stated that the college has been reaching out to people who had or may have had close contact with the employee. He additionally stated in the announcement that the employee was not symptomatic while they were on campus, but included a recommendation from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health for those who had close contact with the individual to quarantine themselves for 14 days.

In addition, Scroggins’ message stated that the college’s central campus, the area north of Temple Avenue and west of Bonita Avenue, will be closed until April 1 for cleaning and sanitization. Staff who were deemed critical and were scheduled to be in the area have been directed to stay off campus.

Scroggins added that others who have tested positive for COVID-19 need to contact Mt. SAC Human Resources by calling (909) 274-4225 immediately. He also recommended that people with health-related questions should call Student Health at (909) 274-4400.

Classes will resume through only online instruction on Sunday, March 29.