Over the last six weeks, UC San Diego’s Return to Learn team has continued to test wastewater on campus and at the Point Loma Wastewater treatment plant and monitor national and global SARS-CoV-2 virus activity. While the spike in positive cases throughout the county during the month of July appears to be cresting, there is still a high level of virus circulating. We ask you to remain vigilant in the coming weeks using the following safety measures.
Masking
Masking indoors remains one of the best defenses in protecting you and others from the virus. Masking is required in all indoor instructional settings, clinical areas, and on Triton transportation. All students must wear face masks within their residential unit (except for their personal bedrooms or in the shower) as well as in residential halls, elevators, lobbies, etc. Learn more on the Student Housing Safety page.
While masking is optional in all other areas of campus, it is strongly recommended you wear a mask indoors. Since most UC San Diego community COVID cases are the result of exposures during activities of daily life away from campus, it is strongly recommended that you also wear a mask in public, especially at grocery stores, shopping centers, movie theaters, airports/airplanes, concerts or other locations where there are large crowds of people during this period of high community transmission.
Daily Symptom Self-Screening Reminder
UC San Diego requires everyone residing in or coming to a UC San Diego location for any reason to complete the daily symptom self-screening for COVID-19. Please complete your daily symptom self-screening every day you are on campus. If you develop symptoms, please wear a mask until you are well to reduce the risk of spreading COVID as well as other respiratory infections.
Testing Reminder
Rapid antigen tests are now widely available, but keep in mind that these tests are less reliable than PCR tests in the early phases of an infection. If symptoms worsen or persist, repeat the rapid antigen test if you are off campus or complete a PCR test.
If you test outside of UC San Diego and/or use a rapid antigen test at home, it is important to report any positive COVID test to the Testing Support Line at (619) 543-8260 or email emp-test-sch-line@health.ucsd.edu to ensure you get the proper support.
Students and employees who are not vaccinated or are not up-to-date on their vaccination status are required to test two times per week, between three and five days apart.
Exposed or Tested Positive?
Campus employees or students who have tested positive for or who have been exposed to COVID-19 should review the Exposure and Isolation webpage on the Return to Learn website for important COVID-19 health information.
Community of Care
We are a community of care. It is important that you stay home when you are sick. There are paid leave options specific to COVID-19 that are available to all UC San Diego employees. If you run out of paid leave or sick time, there may be other options available. Please communicate with our Human Resources team to learn more about these options.
UC San Diego’s multidisciplinary team is carefully monitoring and analyzing data. Should they be necessary, we will communicate any required changes with speed and transparency. Updated information and current campus safety protocols are available on the Return to Learn website.
Thank you for your continued vigilance and your responsible participation in our community of caring. Your efforts have made and continue to make a difference.
