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516 - Environment, Health & Safety

Section: 516-31
Effective: 11/16/2022
Supersedes: 01/12/2022
Next Review Date: 06/30/2023
Issuance Date: 11/16/2022
Issuing Office: Chancellor's Office

PPM 516-31 Policy [pdf format]

CAMPUS COVID-19 TESTING POLICY

REFERENCES 

 

Principles for Responsible Operation of University Locations in Light of the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic (https://regents.universityofcalifornia.edu/regmeet/may20/b2.pdf

 

Policy: Vaccination Programs issued by the University of California’s Office of the President” (available at https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/5000695/VaccinationProgramsPolicy ) (“UCOP Vaccination Programs”). 

 

 

PREAMBLE

 

UC San Diego is committed to limiting the spread of SARS-CoV-2 on campus. After consultation with campus infectious disease experts, the following is the campus policy on COVID-19 testing.  

 

 

POLICY 

 

Definitions

The following terms shall have the same meaning as in the UCOP Vaccination Programs: 

 

·       Covered Individuals 

·       Location 

·       Physical Presence 

·       University Program 

 

Daily Symptom Screening Requirements

Regardless of vaccination status, every day before coming to a UC San Diego Location, all Covered Individuals must complete the UC San Diego Daily Symptom Screener. For Covered Individuals who reside on campus in UC San Diego-provided housing, such individuals must complete the UC San Diego Daily Symptom Screener every day before leaving their UC San Diego-provided residence for any campus Location. For those students, faculty, and staff who are not coming to a campus Location on any given day, completion of the Daily Symptom Screener is recommended but not required.

 

Effect of a Positive Daily Symptom Screening

All Covered Individuals who register symptoms in the UC San Diego Daily Symptom Screener must be tested for SARS-CoV-2 within 48 hours and must receive a negative SARS-CoV-2 test result before coming to any UC San Diego Location. Notwithstanding the foregoing, individuals who register symptoms may come to the UC San Diego campus for the purpose of taking a SARS-CoV-2 test.

 

Testing Requirements for Exposed Individuals

Regardless of vaccination status, Covered Individuals who have been notified by San Diego County public health officials or their designees that they have an exposure to SARS-CoV-2 must be tested for SARS-CoV-2 within 3 to 5 days after the presumed exposure date. If exposure notification is greater than 5 days after the presumed exposure date, the individuals must be tested for SARS-CoV-2 within 24 hours of the notification.

 

Type of Acceptable Tests

All SARS-CoV-2 tests required by this Policy must be either a PCR test or an FDA-approved or FDA-authorized rapid antigen test.

 

No Cost for Mandatory Testing Administered by UC San Diego

UC San Diego will offer SARS-CoV-2 tests to all Covered Individuals required to test under this Policy at no cost to the individual tested.

 

Timing of Testing for Non-Exempt Employees

For non-exempt employees, all SARS-CoV-2 testing required by this Policy should occur on-site on the UC San Diego campus during the employee’s normal work shift, unless otherwise approved in advance by the employee’s supervisor.

 

Effect of a Positive SARS-CoV-2 Test

Covered Individuals who receive a positive test result for SARS-CoV-2 are not permitted to enter any Location until cleared to do so by the UC San Diego Center for Occupational & Environmental Medicine (COEM) for employees or Student Health Services for students, with the exception of Covered Individuals living in on-campus housing who may continue to reside in their campus residence if approved by Student Health Services but must follow the instructions of Housing, Dining and Hospitality and the Student Housing Safety Rules (https://returntolearn.ucsd.edu/return-to-campus/student-housing-safety/index.html).

 

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Policy, Covered Individuals who receive a positive test result for SARS-CoV-2 may come to the UC San Diego campus for the purpose of seeking or obtaining medical care from an appropriate UC San Diego Health facility, provided such individuals comply with all rules promulgated by that facility.

 

 

Discipline

Failure to comply with this Policy may result in discipline in accordance with the applicable policy or Collective Bargaining Agreement.

 

 

REVISION HISTORY

 

09/03/2020       Policy issued.

 

09/07/2021       This policy was reviewed, revised and reformatted.

 

09/09/2021       Link added for Student Housing Safety Rules.

 

12/21/2021       Policy revised with updates to testing requirements for Winter 2022 Quarter.

 

01/12/2022       Policy revised with updates to testing requirements.

 

11/16/2022       Policy revised with updates to testing requirements.