As you are aware, UC San Diego has developed a multifaceted, proactive strategy to detect SARS CoV-2 (which causes COVID-19) in our community so that we can reduce transmission of virus on the campus to the greatest extent possible.
The virus is shed from the gastrointestinal tract and is present in feces early in the infection. UC San Diego has the ability to identify the virus in wastewater, even before someone tests positive.
Our early detection system identified active virus in the wastewater outflow in the Revelle College area from 11:30am on Saturday, October 24 to 9:45am on Monday, October 26. The specific buildings associated with this wastewater sampler are listed below:
- Revelle College Buildings: CTK building 1, CTK building 2, CTK building 3, Beagle, Atlantis, Discovery, Meteor, Galthea. Note Blake and Argo buildings are NOT included in this wastewater outflow and are not included in this notice.
- Other buildings: Revelle Commons (64 Degrees), Housing and Dining Administration Building, Natural Sciences Building, Galbraith Hall, York Hall, Revelle Provost.
Thousands of people are on the UC San Diego campus every day, including members of the public. This test is an early indication that one of them is shedding the virus; note that viral shedding starts before symptoms develop.
TAKE ACTION
TESTING
If you used the restroom in this area between 11:30am on Saturday, October 24 and 9:45am on Monday, October 26, out of an abundance of caution, you should get tested.
Campus SARS CoV-2 testing capabilities are now sufficient to offer testing through our asymptomatic screening program so that we will be able to tell you whether you might be shedding virus at this time. UC San Diego Heath testing sites are distributed throughout San Diego and we have an additional testing site at the Price Center to enable you to be tested over the next one or two days. In order to make this as convenient as possible, we are asking that you schedule your test through these links, which will allow you to self-schedule a test at a specific time and location.
You will need to monitor yourself for symptoms for the next 14 days. In addition to monitoring yourself for symptoms, you should also be particularly meticulous about observing all current guidelines about prevention of COVID-19 transmission when you are around others. This includes avoiding direct physical contact with others, wearing a mask in the presence of others (especially indoors), staying at least 6 feet from others and washing your hands frequently.
You should be particularly careful about these prevention recommendations if you are in the presence of people with risk factors for more serious COVID-19 disease. This includes people over the age of 55 as well as people with underlying medical conditions including heart disease, lung disease, kidney disease, liver disease, diabetes or obesity.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AVAILABLE
In closing, we want to emphasize that we are notifying you of these recommendations because we wish to be exceedingly cautious while we work to better understand the implications of identifying a trace of virus in the wastewater testing. As we noted, we are not certain that anyone on campus is infected, but we do want to offer testing and this information as part of our ongoing efforts to stay ahead of this virus in our community.
Further information is available at the Return to Learn website and on Blink.
