ALL ACADEMICS, STUDENTS, AND STAFF AT UC SAN DIEGO (Including UC San Diego Health)
Update on Wastewater Testing Results
On Saturday, September 5, UC San Diego announced that as part of our multi-faceted and proactive strategy to detect SARS CoV-2 (which causes COVID-19) in our community, our early detection system identified traces of the virus in the wastewater outflow from the Revelle College area. This served as an early indication that one or more individuals was shedding the virus. Viral shedding in fecal matter may start before symptoms develop.
The testing was conducted on aggregated wastewater from the Revelle College area. We were able to identify and notify the students in the residential buildings that feed the wastewater stream where the virus was detected and provide them with no-cost testing. We also distributed a campus announcement to all students, faculty and staff alerting them to the finding and offering no-cost testing to others who may have been in the buildings during the implicated time period.
We have tested 368 students and 279 employees. To date, all students tested negative and we have identified two employees who tested positive for the virus. These employees have been notified and are quarantined off campus until they are cleared to return.
Additional information about ongoing testing results can be found on our online dashboard that reports weekly aggregate test results for students and employees. This dashboard is updated every Monday. The figures are based on tests conducted by UC San Diego Health and reported to San Diego County Public Health.
Our ability to quickly respond, communicate, test and isolate potentially impacted members of the UC San Diego community shows that our Return to Learn strategy is working. Thank you for your commitment to one another, and for being part of Tritons protecting Tritons.
Pradeep K. Khosla Chancellor
University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093
