OFFICE OF THE CHANCELLOR

November 25, 2020

ALL STUDENTS, ACADEMICS AND STAFF AT UC SAN DIEGO (Including UC San Diego Health)

Wastewater Detection of SARS CoV-2

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.

On November 22, we expanded our wastewater monitoring to 52 samplers across campus. Our early detection system identified active virus in the wastewater outflow in one new campus areas from 11 a.m. on Monday, November 23 to 11 a.m. on Tuesday, November 24. The specific building associated with this wastewater sampler is listed below:

Muir College: Tamarack

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 individuals are shedding the virus; note that viral shedding starts before symptoms develop.

Campus cleaning of restroom facilities remains rigorous and consistent.

TAKE ACTION

TESTING

If you used the restroom in one of these buildings between 11 a.m. on Monday, November 23 and 11 a.m. on Tuesday, November 24, out of an abundance of caution, you should get tested promptly.

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.

Self-administered testing is available for students at Price Center, Seventh College, and Nuevo Fitness Center from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Kits containing all materials for testing and instructions are provided. Self-administered testing does NOT require an appointment and testing can be done at a convenient time and location. Completed tests are returned to any of the pick-up locations and placed in the designated drop box. NOTE: for results by Thursday, samples must be submitted by Wednesday 4 p.m. This week sites are open Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday (11/25, 28 and 29).

Additional UC San Diego Heath testing sites are distributed throughout San Diego as well as the Price Center and Athena Circle to enable you to be tested over the next one or two days. Testing at these locations requires an appointment which you can schedule your test through these links:

Students: https://covid19testing.ucsd.edu/Asymptomatic/Student
Campus Employees: https://covid19testing.ucsd.edu/Asymptomatic/Campus

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.

Pradeep K. Khosla
Chancellor

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