(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) — The Santa Barbara County Public Health Department (PHD) was alerted by a health care partner that multiple Isla Vista residents recently came into contact with someone in San Diego County that later tested positive for COVID-19. Out of an abundance of caution, Dr. Henning Ansorg, Public Health Officer, has issued a mandatory quarantine for five individuals, which are known to be UCSB students. PHD is conducting testing for COVID-19 infection as needed and results will be shared, as they are known.

The PHD’s Disease Control & Prevention team is directing a very thorough investigation of all contacts of quarantined residents. All identified contacts of these individuals have been notified and are self-quarantined in their residences at this time. As a reminder, people under quarantine are healthy individuals that are known to have been exposed to someone with a potential communicable disease, in this case COVID-19. People under quarantine exhibiting symptoms will be tested for COVID-19.

No action needs to be taken by the general public at this time. Since the identified Isla Vista residents are under mandatory quarantine, they will not be allowed to leave their place of quarantine until the Health Officer order is lifted. PHD has been working swiftly to address the situation and continue to protect the health of local community members. Updates on this evolving situation will be shared as PHD knows them.

Community members are reminded to continue practicing social distancing measures including postponing and cancelling events with 250 people or more, maintaining 6 feet of distance between people and limiting gatherings involving those with higher risk for severe illness.

For parents and students needing information specific to the UCSB campus, please contact their call center at 805-893-3000.

For more information about COVID-19 and PHD’s response, please visit www.publichealthsbc.org or call the COVID-19 Call Center at (833) 688-5551 on Sunday from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.