Thanksgiving Break Reminders

Key takeaways:

  • Keep making smart choices: The more we practice COVID safety measures, the more opportunities we will have to celebrate in-person. If possible, it’s best to gather only with fully-vaccinated friends and family and opt against serving food and drink at indoor events during the week following Thanksgiving.  

  • Test if You’re Traveling: If you plan to travel, we recommend that you consider a surveillance test at UHS approximately three days before your trip. If you have traveled during the Thanksgiving period, we strongly recommend testing within 5 days of returning, especially if you are unvaccinated.

  • Cal Dining Offering a Special Service: Cal Dining will be offering a special service during Thanksgiving break, including a feast with Peking duck and roast beef on Thursday, Nov. 25, at Foothill from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. New this year, meal swipes will be accepted over Thanksgiving break.

  • Campus Closures: See below for details. Contact a specific office or check their website if you anticipate needing to access resources during the holiday.

 

Dear UC Berkeley undergraduate, graduate, and professional students,

 

With Thanksgiving break later this month, we wish to share important updates and reminders to help you make informed holiday plans. This year, the Thanksgiving holiday is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 25 through Sunday, Nov. 28, with a non-instructional day on Wednesday, Nov. 24.

 

Holiday Tips

The campus expects to see an increase of COVID-19 cases in the post-Thanksgiving period as a result of travel and social gatherings. While we don’t plan to move classes online post-Thanksgiving, we are encouraging vigilance on the part of the campus community. There are several mitigation measures that you can take to help protect your fellow Bears:

  • If you plan to attend an in-person event, consider gathering outdoors or only with fully vaccinated friends and family. During the event, kindly and firmly ask people to follow public health precautions.

  • Avoid indoor events where there is not 100% compliance with masking and/or vaccination checks.

  • Where possible, opt against serving food and drink at indoor events during the week following Thanksgiving.

 

If You’re Traveling

If you plan to travel, we recommend that you consider getting a surveillance test at UHS approximately three days before your trip. If testing documentation for travel purposes is needed, we recommend that you get this testing/documentation done outside at a place that specializes in travel testing. Please check the UHS testing before travel web page, including links to outside resources for travel-related COVID testing.

 

The week of November 22, UHS will offer testing on Monday and Tuesday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Recreational Sports Facility site. The testing site will close from Wednesday, Nov. 24 through Sunday, Nov. 28. Please make testing appointments via eTang as usual.

 

If you have traveled during the Thanksgiving period, we strongly recommend testing within 5 days of returning. (As a reminder, if you are unvaccinated, you are already required to get tested every week.) If you are vaccinated, have no symptoms of COVID-19, and have not been in close contact with someone with COVID-19, you don’t need to self-sequester or limit activities upon your return. If you are vaccinated and feel any symptoms when you return, or if you were in close contact with someone who had COVID-19, please get tested at UHS as soon as possible upon arrival and self-sequester until you receive negative test results. If you are unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated and returning from domestic or international travel, get tested 3-5 days after travel AND self-sequester for a full 7 days after travel. Even if you test negative, self-sequester for the full 7 days. See CDC guidelines for more information.

 

If You’re Staying in Town

Campus residence halls, suites, and apartments will be open through the Thanksgiving holiday period. If you are staying in town, please plan ahead for any special needs for groceries and meals.

 

Cal Dining will also be offering a special service during Thanksgiving break, including a feast with Peking duck and roast beef on Thursday, Nov. 25, at Foothill from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. New this year, meal swipes will be accepted over Thanksgiving break. See Cal Dining locations and Thanksgiving break hours.

 

Office Closures

Lastly, we’d like to note some following campus changes to operations. This is not a comprehensive list of all student services, so you may wish to check a specific website or call an office in advance if you anticipate needing to access a service during the break:

  • Graduate Division: Will be closed for in-person services the three days before Thanksgiving break (Nov. 22-24), as well as the holiday break.

  • Cal Student Central: Cal Student Central will be closed for in-person and phone services during the week of Thanksgiving. You may still visit our virtual front desk from Monday- Wednesday and/or open a web case at any time. For more information please visit our Services and Support page. Our services will fully reopen on Monday, November 29th.

  • Rec Sports: The RSF and lap swim schedules will be adjusted during the break. View Thanksgiving break hours. Traveling during the break? Focus on your wellness with Rec Sports Online.

  • ASUC Student Union: The Student Union (MLK Jr. Building & Eshleman Hall) will be closing at 3pm on Wednesday, November 24th and will remain closed through Sunday November 28th. The Basic Needs Center’s Food Pantry will be closed Monday, November 22nd through Sunday, November 28th.

 

We hope you have a restful and enjoyable Thanksgiving break.

 

Sincerely,

 

Stephen C. Sutton, Ed.D.
Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs
(he/him/his)

 

 

This message was sent to all undergraduate and graduate students.