February 17, 2021

Both student and campus employee COVID-19 positive case rates have been declining over the past two weeks—both dropped to below one percent. Thank you to our campus community for your continued dedication to weekly testing, physical distancing and masking. You can see current testing and case rates on the UC San Diego COVID-19 Daily Dashboard.

A new outdoor study space is now available, located near Library Walk across from Center Hall. The new space—open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on a first-come, first-served basis—has capacity for 35 students and is equipped with WiFi access. Physical distancing and face covering protocols apply. 

Three’s Company allows students to socialize in small groups (three or fewer), so long as they are outside, wearing face coverings, and observing physical distancing. This program does not change the guest policy for campus residents; indoor socializing is not allowed at this time. 

Looking for an easy way to give back? For every student that tests 10 times (once a week) during winter quarter, Chancellor Khosla will donate $50 towards the Basic Needs Hub. To take part in the Chancellor’s Challenge, see testing instructions on the Student Screening and Testing page.

Answer: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), yes it is recommended that you continue to mask and physically distance after vaccination. Not enough information is currently available to say if or when CDC will stop recommending that people wear masks and avoid close contact with others to help prevent the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19.

Experts need to understand more about the protection that COVID-19 vaccines provide in real-world conditions before making that decision. Other factors, including how many people get vaccinated and how the virus is spreading in communities, will also affect this decision. We also don’t yet know whether getting a COVID-19 vaccine will prevent you from spreading the virus that causes COVID-19 to other people, even if you don’t get sick yourself. Learn more on the CDC FAQ page.

Answer: If your building is associated with a positive wastewater signal, it may mean that there are one or more infected individuals in the building.

Please note that because multiple buildings can feed wastewater into a single sampler, a positive signal in a building does not necessarily mean there is someone infected inside your building. Further, in some cases individuals who have recovered from their SARS-CoV-2 infection can continue to shed virus into the wastewater for several weeks after they have recovered. Learn more about our wastewater monitoring program here.

Question: Does UC San Diego Health offer COVID-19 test opportunities for the public?

Answer: Yes, UC San Diego Health offers drive-up COVID-19 tests by appointment for the public, including family members of employees and students who do not live on campus. Test fees are $65, and results are delivered typically within 48 hours. Learn more about COVID-19 community testing and schedule a test here.