Current Policies and Status

Face masks

Stanford strongly recommends masking indoors and in crowded outdoor settings.

Masking is required in healthcare facilities, including Vaden Health Center, Stanford University Occupational Health Center, and Stanford Hospitals and Clinics. Effective Oct. 24, 2022, face masks are no longer mandatory in classrooms. However, individual instructors have the option of requiring masks in classes. Instructors who require masking should inform students in advance on Canvas, the university’s learning management system, and by email.

Vaccination

Effective Monday, April 10, 2023, the university will no longer require – but continue to strongly recommend – COVID vaccinations and boosters for faculty, staff, postdoctoral scholars, and students.

Vaccination requirements will remain in place for students and staff who work or rotate in Stanford health care facilities, in accordance with federal guidance.

Testing

Surveillance testing for students will end June 18, at the end of spring quarter. Free rapid tests remain available for students and employees. Faculty, staff, and postdocs should continue reporting positive test results on Health Check, and students should do so on the Vaden patient portal.

Health Check

Faculty, staff, and postdocs who test positive for COVID are required to self-report their health status in HealthCheck.

Guidance for faculty, staff, and postdocs who are experiencing COVID-like symptoms or have been in close contact with an individual who tested positive for COVID-19 has been updated here.

Travel

Stanford recommends, but does not require, that international travelers test themselves using a rapid COVID test on day 0. Travelers who are experiencing symptoms of illness should mask until receiving a negative rapid COVID test on day 5.

Students planning travel or returning to campus should review the Student Affairs Travel & Return Testing Guide

More information about travel is available here.