As we anticipate primarily in-person instruction on Jan. 31, I am reaching out to provide the latest COVID-19 mitigation updates to help us prepare for a more populated campus during the winter quarter.
The Highlights
- Reminder: On-Campus Testing Availability
- On-Site Work: Testing Requirements
- Upgrade Your Face Covering
- Booster Clinics: Jan. 26-28
- Uploading Your Proof of Vaccination
Reminder: On-Campus Testing Availability
Weekday testing is available Monday through Friday at the Merrill Cultural Center with appointments scheduled through Fulgent. As Chancellor Larive mentioned in her recent message, we are in the process of expanding our testing capacity through a partnership with UCLA to provide saliva-based testing. Below we’ve also included the latest testing information if you are about to return to on-site work.
On-Site Work: Testing Requirements
24 Hours Before You Arrive
Employees who are not fully vaccinated are required to get tested or take a self-administered COVID-19 test 24 hours prior to returning to on-site work.
We strongly recommend that fully vaccinated employees get tested or take a self-administered COVID-19 test at least 24 hours before returning to on-site work.
For all employees, if your test is positive, please postpone your return until your healthcare provider has cleared you. If you have been exposed through close contact, please contact your manager and follow current CDPH Guidelines.
Returning to On-Site Work
Employees who are not fully vaccinated are required to test at an on-campus testing site within 48 hours of their return to on-site work. After your initial on-site test, you will need to resume the testing cadence of at least once every 4 days.
Please Note: The 4-day testing requirement does not apply to employees who have completed a COVID-19 vaccine series but are not yet eligible for their booster or who will receive their booster by Jan. 31.
Fully vaccinated employees are advised to take an on-site Fulgent PCR test when they return to campus, but it is not required.
Regardless of vaccination status, all employees will also need to complete the daily symptom checker once they return to on-site work.
Lastly, we recommend that all employees self-monitor for any COVID-like symptoms within 7 days of their return as a best practice. Please notify your medical provider as appropriate.
Please refer to the UC Santa Cruz Winter Quarter Return Protocol for more about testing requirements based on your vaccination status.
Upgrade Your Face Covering
Due to the infectious nature of the Omicron variant, we strongly recommend that UCSC employees upgrade their face coverings to an N95 respirator, KN95 mask, or a disposable surgical mask in combination with a cloth mask while working on campus.
A list of face coverings available from the campus and the request form are on the Environmental Health & Safety website. Please attempt to consolidate requests into a single submission by department, research group, or building as appropriate. Masks are also being distributed at the Merrill Cultural Center, Bay Tree Bookstore, McHenry Library, S&E Library, and Kerr Hall.
Booster Clinics: Jan. 26-28
If you couldn’t attend one of our booster clinics this past week, the good news is that we have more clinics scheduled in the next several days.
The Student Health Center will host additional booster clinics on Jan. 26-28 at the Stevenson Event Center. For those dates, you can make an appointment for a Moderna booster through Health e-Messenger.
If none of the clinic dates or locations work for you, you can find locations administering free COVID-19 boosters by visiting California’s MyTurn website.
Uploading Your Proof of Vaccination
The deadline to get your COVID-19 booster and submit proof is Jan. 31. If you are not eligible for your booster by Jan. 31, you are required to get your booster and submit proof of your booster within two weeks of becoming eligible in order to remain in compliance with UC policy.
To upload your proof of vaccination, log in to Health e-Messenger with your CruzID and Gold password. Confirm your date of birth. Select Medical Clearances on the left-hand side, then COVID-19. Click the green Update button. Upload a copy of your vaccine card, fill out your vaccine type and the date of your booster, and click “Done.” View this document for a detailed step-by-step.
More information on the process and eligibility requirements are available on the Student Health Center’s COVID-19 Vaccine page.
A recording of the staff town hall is available online. The password is UCSCStaff (case sensitive).
As always, we will continue to provide the latest updates on our campus operations via the Slug Strong website. Thank you again for doing your part to keep our campus community healthy while we navigate these challenging times.
Sincerely,
Biju
Biju Kamaleswaran
Interim Vice Chancellor, Business and Administrative Services
