• Welcome to the 22-23 school year. As the first semester unfolds, we will monitor our Covid variant procedures and provide updates as needed. We are grateful for your partnership and look forward to the new year together.

    As we continue our mission of preparing students today for tomorrow’s careers, please know the transmission rate at West-MEC has remained low over the last few years. This is due to mitigation strategies across campuses including:

    • Social distancing when possible
    • Smaller class sizes due to industry requirements/attending campus for one program in one area
    • Hand sanitizing stations
    • Hand washing posters displayed around campuses
    • Campuses cleaned and sanitized
    • Students wearing masks and PPE kits as part of their lab experience and program requirements (e.g., Dental Assisting, Medical Assisting)


    Covid Variants FAQ

    What are the Covid variant’s symptoms?
    Covid variant symptoms vary from person to person, but please self-monitor for any of the following: Fever of 100.4 degrees or higher, Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, muscle aches, sore throat, headache, fatigue, congestion or runny nose, cough, vomiting, diarrhea.

    What are the Covid variant’s exposure procedures?

    Vaccinated Students –
    They can continue to go to school and do not need to quarantine if they do not exhibit any Covid symptoms. Wearing a mask for 10 days and providing proof of vaccination are recommended.

    Non-vaccinated Students –
    Must quarantine for 5 days from the date of exposure. May return to school after 5 days. A non-vaccinated student can choose to get tested after 72 hours (rapid test if possible), and if the test is negative, they can return to school if they are symptom-free. Wearing a mask for 7 days is recommended.

    What are the Covid variant’s positive test procedures?

    Vaccinated Students & Non-vaccinated Students –
    5-day quarantine from the positive testing date (Day 0 is the test day). May return to school after 5 days if no symptoms or symptoms are resolving. Wearing a mask for an additional 5 days is recommended.

    What constitutes a vaccinated person?
    Per Maricopa County Public Health, a vaccinated person has the following:
    • Documented COVID-19 vaccination
    OR
    • Documented COVID-19 infection within the last 90 days

    Can students wear masks?
    Yes. This is optional for students, staff, and visitors. The only time students are required to wear masks is if it is part of the lab experience and part of the PPE protocols for the student’s program (e.g., Medical Assisting, Dental Assisting, etc.).

    What are the COVID-19 mitigation procedures?
    Campuses will continue to social distance when feasible, provide hand sanitizer, and encourage hand washing. All campuses will be cleaned and sanitized.

    Do students need to be vaccinated?
    Students, staff, and visitors are not required to be vaccinated to be on campus.