Long Beach City College (LBCC) announced today that all employees and students taking in-person classes will need to provide proof of vaccination or be regularly tested for COVID-19 for the Fall 2021 Semester, which begins Mon., Aug. 30.

“This was not an easy decision to make but LBCC made it to do our best to keep our students, colleagues, our families, and friends as safe as possible during this pandemic,” said Long Beach Community College District Interim Superintendent-President Dr. Mike Muñoz. “I met yesterday with all of our LBCC constituency leaders and we agree that this is the best next course of action as we see the number of COVID-19 cases spike and hospitalizations increase drastically in the past few weeks alone.”

In Los Angeles County, the number of COVID-19 related cases has nearly doubled in the last two weeks. According to the Los Angeles County Health Department, almost everyone who is hospitalized was unvaccinated.

The State of California, the California State University and the University of California systems, and the City of Long Beach is putting into place vaccine mandates. The Chancellor’s Office has recommended that California Community Colleges develop vaccine mandate plans. In light of all of this information, LBCC has made the decision to mandate vaccines, to strive to create the healthiest and safest environment for all.

“The majority of LBCC’s student population falls between the ages of 18-35, and this is the population that is being hit the hardest by the COVID-19 Delta variant,” said LBCCD Board of Trustees President Uduak-Joe Ntuk. “It’s imperative for our employees and our students not only to get vaccinated to help protect their own immediate family and friends but to also help our young student population we serve in the classrooms.”

LBCC has elected to follow the highest safety protocols, and face coverings are required when in indoor public settings and outdoors regardless of vaccination status and continue to practice six feet of physical distancing for vaccinated and unvaccinated persons while indoors or outdoors.