Coronavirus Information

Yakima Valley College offers classes in both fully on-campus and hybrid formats, as well as online class options for those who prefer that format. See all class options on our Class Search. Student services are also offered through a combination of in-person and online options.

YVC follows the Basic COVID-19 Requirements for All Workplaces (Washington State Department of Labor & Industries) and CDC’s guidance regarding isolation periods and precautions for individuals who test positive for COVID-19 or suspect they have COVID but do not yet have test results.

Please read the CDC’s guidance for full details about what you should do. Following is a summary:

  • Do not come to campus until you have isolated for the appropriate length of time as outlined by CDC guidelines or if you are sick and suspect that you have COVID but do not yet have test results.
  • If you test positive for COVID-19 or have symptoms, regardless of vaccination status, stay home and isolate yourself for at least 5 days.
    • If you have symptoms, you can end isolation if you are fever-free for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication) and your symptoms are improving. If you did not have symptoms, you can end isolation after at least 5 full days after your positive test.
    • Wear a mask for a full 10 days following a positive test.
  • If you were exposed to COVID-19, regardless of vaccination status, wear a mask for a full 10 days after exposure. Get tested at least 5 days after the last exposure.
    • You do not need to isolate yourself at home unless you develop symptoms
  • An employee who has tested positive for COVID-19 or exhibits symptoms, or who has been exposed to COVID-19 during the work shift at YVC, needs to contact Human Resources at 509.574.4670 to initiate a work-related COVID case report.
  • You do not need to isolate yourself at home unless you develop symptoms.

Notification Process For Students

  • Do not come to campus until you have isolated for the appropriate length of time as outlined by CDC guidelines or if you are sick and suspect that you have COVID but do not yet have test results.
  • Students who tested COVID-positive and are returning to campus after a 5-day isolation period must wear a well-fitting mask for days 6-10 after the onset of symptoms or positive test result.
  • Students exposed to someone with COVID-19 must wear a mask on campus around others for the full 10 days after exposure and should get tested at least 5 full days after your last exposure per CDC guidance.
  • Students taking in-person courses who have a positive test or are waiting on a test result should contact their instructors directly to discuss work for those courses.
  • Questions can be directed to Campus Safety at 509.574.4610.

 Notification Process For Employees

  • An employee who has tested positive for COVID-19 or exhibits symptoms, or who has been exposed to COVID-19 during the work shift at YVC, needs to contact Human Resources at 509.574.4670 to initiate a work-related COVID case report.
  • Human Resources will then manage the notification of appropriate personnel.
  • Do not come to campus until you have isolated for the appropriate length of time as outlined by CDC guidelines, or if you are sick and suspect that you have COVID but do not yet have test results.
  • Employees who tested COVID-positive and are returning to work after a 5-day isolation period must wear a well-fitting mask for days 6-10 after the onset of symptoms or positive test result.
  • Employees exposed to someone with COVID-19 must wear a mask on campus for the full 10 days after exposure and should get tested at least 5 full days after your last exposure per CDC guidance.


Information for Current and Prospective Students

YVC indoor masking on campus is voluntary. We strongly support individual masking decisions by anyone on campus and ask everyone to be respectful of the choices of others.

  • If someone who tested COVID-positive and is returning to campus after a 5-day isolation period must wear a well-fitting mask for days 6-10 after the onset of symptoms or positive test result.
  • Anyone who has been exposed to someone with COVID-19 must wear a mask on campus around others for the full 10 days after exposure.
  • YVC endeavors to make sure that voluntary use of respirators is safe. All YVC employees may use N95 respirators as long as their use doesn’t create a safety or security issue. See voluntary use requirements in Respirators, Chapter 296-842, WAC.

Vaccinations are encouraged, but not required

YVC strongly encourages employees and students to get vaccinated against COVID-19, but we will not require vaccinations as a condition of learning and working on campus. Some clinical sites may require vaccinations.

How to get Vaccinated

Vaccines have proven highly effective against COVID-19, even the variants. If you have not been vaccinated, we strongly encourage you to do so. Find a location.

If you test positive for COVID-19 or have symptoms, regardless of vaccination status, stay home and isolate for at least 5 days.

  • If you have symptoms, you can end isolation if you are fever-free for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication) and your symptoms are improving. If you did not have symptoms, you can end isolation after at least 5 full days after your positive test.
  • Wear a mask for a full 10 days following a positive test.

If you were exposed to COVID-19, regardless of vaccination status, wear a mask for a full 10 days after exposure. Get tested at least 5 days after last exposure.

  • You do not need to isolate at home unless you develop symptoms.

Notification Process for a COVID Exposure or Positive Test

 Notification Process For Students

  • Do not come to campus until you have isolated or quarantined for the appropriate length of time as outlined by CDC guidelines.
  • Students who tested COVID-positive and are returning to campus after a 5-day isolation period must wear a well-fitting mask for days 6-10 after the onset of symptoms or positive test result.
  • Students exposed to someone with COVID-19 must wear a mask on campus around others for the full 10 days after exposure.
  • Students taking in-person courses who have a positive test or close contact should contact their instructors directly to discuss work for those courses.

 Notification Process For Employees

  • An employee who has tested positive for COVID-19 or exhibits symptoms, or who has been exposed to COVID-19 during the work shift at YVC, needs to contact Human Resources at 509.574.4670 to initiate a work-related COVID case report.
  • Human Resources will then manage the notification of appropriate personnel.
  • Do not come to campus until you have isolated or quarantined for the appropriate length of time as outlined by CDC guidelines.
  • Employees who tested COVID-positive and are returning to work after a 5-day isolation period must wear a well-fitting mask for days 6-10 after the onset of symptoms or positive test result.
  • Employees exposed to someone with COVID-19 must wear a mask on campus for the full 10 days after exposure.