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 sewage associated with Revelle College Blake, Argo, and Urey Hall buildings from 4pm Monday, October 26 to Tuesday, 10am October 27. Note this is a new alert that encompasses these buildings (Blake, Argo, Urey Hall), which were not present in the October 26 alert for other Revelle College buildings.
Additionally, another signal was identified in the wastewater outflow in the sewage associated with Mesa Nueva Cala from 10am Monday, October 26 to 10am Tuesday, October 27.
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 or more of them is shedding the virus, viral shedding starts before symptoms develop.
TAKE ACTION
TESTING
If you used the restroom in Revelle College Blake, Argo, and Urey Hall buildings from 4pm Monday, October 26 to Tuesday, 10am October 27 or if you used the restroom in Mesa Nueva Cala from 10am Monday, October 26 to 10am Tuesday, October 27, we recommend you undergo SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) testing.
Campus SARS CoV-2 testing capabilities have been expanded, including the Price Center and the Athena Circle HS location. Additional UC San Diego Heath testing sites are distributed throughout San Diego. All testing is by appointment only. Please schedule your test through these links, which will allow you to self-schedule a test at a specific time and location
SYMPTOM MONITORING
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.
