COVID-19 Testing for the UCSF Community
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Taking the Daily Health Screener will allow UCSF to assist you most efficiently in obtaining testing guidance, even when you know you will fail, due to symptoms, exposures, or travel.
- All employees and students are required to take the daily health screener before you come to any UCSF campus (including Fresno and Oakland).
- If you are working off-campus, you are strongly recommended to take the daily health screener if you have symptoms, exposure, or travel risk.
A failed screen will send a message to the COVID Hotline staff to call you about your symptoms or exposure. You will have options in the Daily Screener for proceeding with testing, or you may plan to test as described below if you have symptoms, exposure, or travel risk.
Students with questions should contact UCSF Student Health and Counseling Services (SHCS) at (415) 476-8736 or send a secure message to the student health nurse.
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- UCSF offers several options and locations for testing for both those with symptoms and without symptoms. The locations link above includes the most up to date information about testing options, including options for Color testing for symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals, PCR testing and Rapid Point of Care Testing.
- Members of the UCSF community can drop in and show their UCSF identification badge to get a Color test kit. Find more information about pick-up and/or drop-off locations and hours.
- If you have any questions about getting a Color test kit, completing the self-swab or getting your test results, please send an email to [email protected], or inquire at any of the Asymptomatic Testing Center sites.
- You may also contact your health care provider to request a test. Many Bay Area cities and counties also offer free community testing.
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If you have experienced symptoms within the last 14 days, including mild ones, don't come to campus or work – even if you are fully vaccinated including a booster dose.
- Complete the Daily Screener. You will have options in the Daily Screener for proceeding with testing and you will be given the most detailed, up-to-date guidance about next steps and to learn if you need COVID Hotline clearance to return to campus. You are permitted to come to campus for testing only.
- If you have symptoms, without a known exposure to someone with COVID-19 and want to get testing started while you wait to complete the interview with the COVID Hotline, for the short term you can take a Color test.
- Do not use the vending machines to access Color tests if you have symptoms. The Laurel Heights drive-through testing site and the Respiratory Screening Clinics at Parnassus Heights and Mount Zion are the only acceptable locations to access Color tests when you have symptoms.
- If your test is positive, continue to isolate and do not come to work or campus. Complete the daily screener to report your positive test. You will be sent a link to a contact tracing survey after completing screener.
- If your test is negative, please send a secure message the Student Health nurse to request resetting of your screener and to provide you clearance to be on campus.
- If you are seeking medical care advice, you may schedule a telehealth appointment with a nurse or with a primary care provider for additional medical advice while you quarantine if you have mild or moderate symptoms.
- For severe symptoms including severe difficulty breathing and inability to speak in full sentences without becoming short of breath, call 911 NOW or go to the nearest Emergency Room immediately.
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If you have been exposed to someone with COVID-19,
- Complete the Daily Screener. You will have options in the Daily Screener for proceeding with testing and you will be given the most detailed, up-to-date guidance about next steps and to learn if you need COVID Hotline clearance to return to campus. For many asymptomatic and fully vaccinated persons, return to work/campus is permitted with scheduled testing.
- If you have been exposed to a person with whom you live in your household with confirmed COVID-19, you are required to undergo a 10-day quarantine until cleared for work or study. Transmission rates are highest in households due to the intensity and duration of exposure to the virus.
- If you have been exposed to a person with confirmed COVID-19 infection in an unprotected, prolonged exposure (unmasked and within six feet for 15 minutes or longer), you are required to be assessed, regardless of vaccination status.
If you might have been exposed to someone with COVID-19
- Employees and students with concerns about possible COVID-19 exposure during the past 10 days and who do not have symptoms should seek asymptomatic testing through the Color testing program. This includes exposure due to participation in crowds/large gatherings, such as funerals or weddings, or co-mingling with persons outside your social bubble at large events, during holidays or when guests are visiting. Use all safety precautions (masking, distancing, frequent hand washing) to minimize exposing others at home and at work while awaiting results.
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- Complete the Daily Screener and answer the travel questions for up-to-date guidance about next steps and to learn if you need COVID Hotline clearance to return to campus. Effective Dec. 17, 2021: Two-step COVID-19 testing required following international travel.
- Regardless of vaccination status, all individuals returning to onsite work within 10 days following international travel are required to take and submit an approved COVID-19 test within 24 hours of entering a UCSF facility (before or during first day onsite).
- A second COVID-19 test is required 3 to 5 days following the first UCSF test.
- Monitor symptoms for 14 days.
- For up to date travel information visit the UCSF COVID-19 Travel page.
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SELF-REPORT A POSITIVE COVID-19 TEST
- UCSF students, complete the Daily Health Screener to report your positive test. The screener will send you a link to also complete a Contact Tracing Survey (less than 10 minute total time).
- You will receive an automated Return to Work clearance letter that will include a return date based on your responses in the screener and contact tracing survey.
- Begin to isolate immediately. Remove yourself from work/campus and complete a 10 day period of isolation.
- If your symptoms are gone after an isolation period of 5 days, repeat the Daily Health Screener. The Covid Response Team will contact you to schedule a rapid antigen test IF you attest to having received a booster, being symptom free and agree to wear an N95 on campus for the remaining days of your isolation period.
- UCSF students are also required to report the positive test result to UCSF Student Health and Counseling Services by sending a copy of the automated clearance letter, via secure message to the student health nurse.
Self-reporting a positive COVID-19 diagnosis will allow UCSF to provide individualized counseling on how best to manage the condition and prevent exposures to others, and to describe criteria and procedures for returning to campus when appropriate.
This self-reporting policy will remain in effect until further notice.
UCSF COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements for Students (including boosters)
The University of California COVID-19 vaccination policy requires all faculty, staff, trainees and students who access campus facilities at any UC location to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The UC wide COVID19 vaccination policy defines the term “Fully Vaccinated” as: A person is considered “fully” vaccinated when two weeks have passed since they completed a COVID-19 Vaccine series (for example, 1 dose of the Janssen/J&J vaccine, or 2 doses within no more than 12 weeks of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine); as well as any boosters consistent with manufacturer instructions and applicable agency approval, authorization, or listing.
All UCSF employees and learners who are eligible to receive a booster shot, are required to obtain a booster by Jan. 31, 2022. UCSF's goal is to get at least 98 percent of the UCSF community vaccinated with a booster, the same vaccination rate it achieved with the initial COVID-19 doses.
You are eligible for a booster if you have received your:
- Second shot of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine at least five months ago.
- J&J vaccine at least two months ago.
UCSF offers COVID-19 booster shots at a few vaccine locations.
- We encourage you to schedule an appointment. When you schedule, you can chose your particular brand of vaccine. Please schedule using MyChart or by calling (415) 476-3307 for San Francisco. (If you can’t connect, call (866) 580-2664.)
Booster shots also are available through clinics, health care providers, and pharmacies. Californians can visit the My Turn website or call (833) 422-4255 to make an appointment or find a nearby vaccine clinic.
If you received a booster shot at a location outside of UCSF, you must upload a copy of that record to the Occupational Health Services portal (UCSF MyAccess is required).
All UCSF students must have their initial vaccination series and booster vaccination (when eligible) recorded through the OHS portal
- If you received your vaccination at UCSF, no further action is needed.
- If you received your vaccination outside of a UCSF campus location—including City College of San Francsco, UCSF Fresno partner locations, or Zuckerberg San Francisco General—you must submit proof of your vaccination on the Occupational Health Services (OHS) portal, which can be accessed via the UCSF network or VPN.
- If you believe that you qualify for a medical exemption or religious belief exception, complete the appropriate “Exception Request Form:
- Medical Exemption and/or Disability Exception Request Form AND Certification From Health Care Provider Form
- Religious Exception Request Form - Upload your completed form(s) on the OHS portal by clicking on the “Submit Covid-19 Exception/Deferral Request” button.
Drop-in COVID-19 Vaccination Sites
UCSF is offering first and second doses of COVID-19 vaccines and Pfizer booster shots* to employees, learners and patients at several locations. We strongly encourage people to schedule an appointment at Mission Bay, Mount Zion or Parnassus Heights campus locations by calling (415) 476-3307, but walk-ins are welcome. Please visit the UCSF COVID-19 Vaccine Information Hub and the SHCS COVID-19 Vaccine FAQs for more information on vaccine locations, scheduling and more.
*Booster shots are available only for individuals who are six months past their second Pfizer COVID-19 shot.
Important Ways to Slow the Spread
- Wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth to help protect yourself and others.
- Stay 6 feet apart from others who don’t live with you.
- Get a COVID-19 vaccine when it is available to you.
- Avoid crowds and poorly ventilated indoor spaces.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water. Use hand sanitizer if soap and water aren’t available.
- Get a booster as soon as you are eligible to receive one.