COVID-19 Information for UC San Diego

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus that can be very contagious and can spread quickly. The virus spreads mainly from person to person when an infected person breathes out droplets and particles that contain the virus, and other people can breathe in these particles and can become sick. Most people with COVID-19 have mild symptoms, but some become severely ill. For more information about how it’s spread, symptoms, testing, treatments, and recommendations, please visit the CDC pages on COVID-19 Information and Respiratory Virus Guidance.

Options for COVID-19 Testing

The free COVID-19 testing program at UCSD will end April 30, 2025.  If you need to get tested for COVID after April 30, 2025 you may;

• Contact your healthcare provider.
• Visit your local drug/retail store.
• On campus, the UCSD Bookstore and Target may sell rapid test kits.
• Find a testing site in your community.

All students and employees have access to COVID self-administered test kits through over two dozen vending machines located across campus. Each vending machine is stocked with PCR test kits, rapid antigen tests and some vending machines provide masks. Students and employees can obtain up to 2 items from the vending machine daily using their campus ID cards.

Sample pickup schedule:

PCR test samples are picked up Monday through Friday. They are picked up at 12 pm Monday - Thursday; and the last pickup for the week is Friday at 10:00 am. Please do not drop off any PCR samples over the weekend, as they will be invalid tests. Campus holidays may affect pick-up times and days. Please check this page for holiday pick-up schedule updates.

Rapid Antigen tests are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week through the vending machines. 

Vending machine locations

Locations: Vending Machines can be found on the UC San Diego app or on the map by selecting "Locations," "Services" and clicking on "COVID Test Kits."

Please note: The following list is only effective until April 30, 2025. On May 1, 2025 some vending machines might be decommissioned, moved, repurposed or removed.

• Muir College | Roots Restaurant (map) 
• Seventh College | Next to the Parcel Center (map)  
• Nuevo East (Porton) | Outdoor Gym Area (map) 
• Price Center | First Floor Across from Burger King (map)* 
• Thurgood Marshall College Res Halls | TMC Residence Life Lobby (map) 
• Warren College | Across from the Residence Life Office (map) 
• Eleanor Roosevelt College | Next to the Laundry Room at Student Activity Center (map) 
• Village at Pepper Canyon | Lodge (map) 
• South Mesa | 9126 Laundry Room (map) 
• One Miramar | Next to the Parcel Center (map) 
• School of Medicine | Biomedical Research Facility II (map) 
• Revelle College | Argo Hall Parcel Center (map) 
• Campus Services Complex | Electric Shop (map) 
• South Parking Structure | Level 3 West Entrance (map) 
• Scripps Institution of Oceanography | Eckart Building Loading Dock (map) 
• Jacobs School of Engineering | Near Bear Statue (map) 
• Gilman Parking | Corridor of Pepper Canyon Hall (map) 
• Coast Apartments | Laundry Room (map) 
• North Torrey Pines Living and Learning Neighborhood (map) 
• Rita Atkinson Residences (map) 
• Torrey Pines Center South | Second-floor breezeway near shuttle (map) 

How to use the vending machines:

If you have trouble with any vending machine, please email EHS-PH@ucsd.edu and include 1) the vending machine location and 2) the error message you received. If one vending machine gives you an error, you can still try using other vending machines across campus.

Based on your vending machine selection you will need the following;

Rapid Antigen Tests Kits OR Masks

• Only your campus photo ID

For PCR Test kits

• Campus photo ID
• Active Directory username and password
• Smartphone or mobile device with the UC San Diego app AND MyUCSDChart or MyStudentChart app installed  

Step 1. Touch screen to begin.

Step 2. Swipe or tap your ID.

• Test kits are FREE, but a virtual $1.00 debt will appear on your campus card, followed by an immediate $1.00 credit.

Step 3. Select number slot corresponding to the item you want to obtain.

• Some machines ask you to select the item first before swiping card. If you get an error, try again by switching step #2 and #3.

Step 4. The vending machine will dispense a test kit that includes a test kit, swab, test tube and instructions of use.

Step 5. Leave the vending machine area to take your test.

For PCR tests

1. Open the UC San Diego app on your smart phone
2. Select Scan Your COVID-19 Kit
3. Confirm that the app captured the bar code
4. Follow instructions to complete your nasal swab

Once done, return to any vending machine for drop-off

5. Remove the test tube from the clamshell and droop the sample vial on the drop box labeled “DROP SCANNED VIALS ONLY”
   1. Drop off days/hours - Monday to Friday. Last pickup for the week is Friday at 10am.
   2. DO NOT drop off your samples over the weekend. Any sample dropped on the weekend or on a UCSD holiday will not be processed.
6. Recycle the clamshell by depositing in the labeled recycling bin. COVID Test Kit Plastic Container Bin is right next to the sample drop box.

For Rapid Antigen Tests

1. Follow the instructions provided on the test kit.
2. If positive,
   1. employees – take a picture of it with your campus ID and upload it to MyChart
   2. students – report your positive result to MyStudentChart

If you test positive for COVID-19 please follow the guidelines recommended by the CDC to Prevent the Spread of Respiratory Viruses when your are sick and find out about your options as a UC Campus employee by visiting the Sick Leave/Bereavement page.

Staff & Faculty (including Volunteers & Student Employees)

Masking in a non-healthcare setting is currently optional, except for the following circumstances:

In all indoor areas for those who:

1. Are completing their isolation after testing positive for COVID-19; 
2. You received a notification of an outbreak in your UCSD workspace. 

Please be respectful of the masking choices of team members and treat colleagues with respect and civility. There is no place for harassment or bullying of anyone based on their masking choice. We should trust that they are making the best choice for themselves and their family.

Masking in a healthcare setting

• For up-to-date guidelines for Healthcare Settings, please visit Pulse.  
• Team members will continue to be supplied with masks upon request and may continue masking for any reason.

For proper use, the face covering must cover both the nose and mouth. Further information can be found on the Campus Guidance on Use of Face Coverings to Prevent Community Spread of COVID-19 webpage.

Visit Ordering COVID-19 PPE for a list of available items and ordering guidance through Oracle.

N95 Respiratory Protection Inquiries 

EH&S provides respirator certification and fit testing services. Additional safeguards and precautions are implemented to ensure the safety of both the program administrator and the customer during this process. For more information, visit the UC San Diego Respiratory Protection Program for regular updates. Campus employees who choose to wear N95-respirators on campus must follow these guidelines..

Students 

• Students with known exposure may return to campus but should be masked at ALL times for the 10 days immediately following exposure.
• Positive students should continue to wear a face mask until the end of Day 10 regardless of whether symptoms are present, even if isolation has ended early, especially when indoors and anytime they are around others.
• Negative students are encouraged to wear a mask while symptoms are present, especially when indoors and anytime they are around others.

If an employee/volunteer on your team tests positive

• Check on how they are doing and assess time-off needed. 
• If the employee tested with a rapid antigen test, or at a non-UC San Diego location, remind them to;
  • Report their positive test and upload a picture via MyUCSDChart.  
  • Fill out the symptom screener. 
• Once the positive test is properly reported, 
  • Employee will receive an email from COEM with information. 
  • Employee will receive an email with a link to complete a 5-10 minute case investigation questionnaire.  The questionnaire may be completed in English or Spanish and must be completed within 24 hours of receiving the link. 
  • Supervisor symptom screener notification  - will receive an email when an employee fails the symptom screener 
    • red thumb: employee is not cleared to work onsite. 
    • yellow thumb: employee is allowed to work, it is strongly recommended to Mask, Test and Monitor for Symptoms. 
    • If you have an employee under your supervision who does not have access to the internet, you must work with that employee to develop an alternate process.  
  • Supervisor workplace exposure notification - will receive an email notification from EOC of a potential workplace exposure.  This notification is required by law in accordance with AB-685 and Cal/OSHA 3205 and must be sent out before 5pm the next business day.  The workplace locations will also be posted on the Dashboard. Please remind all employees to visit the Exposure Dashboard on a daily basis and if exposed, to follow confirmed exposure guidelines. 
  • Supervisor employee clearance notification -  As of 05/17/2024 supervisors will no longer receive an email from COEM when the employee is cleared to return to work. Employees may return to work if they meet the criteria described under employee isolation guidelines described above. 
• Paid leave positions: All COVID-19 related leave ended on 12/31/2022.
  • Work with your HR partner to share which leaves are available to the employee. 
• If you have questions about return-to-work clearance, please email coemexposure@health.ucsd.edu.
• To comply with privacy policies and laws and maintain patient confidentiality, the basis for the employee’s exclusion from campus should remain confidential and should not be shared.

Faculty and staff: Contact your doctor or medical professional.

Students: Contact Student Health Services, (858) 534-3300.

• CDPH
  • Respiratory virus information
  • COVID Resouces
  • When to wear a mask
• CDC 
  • When sick visit the CDC​​ Preventing Spread of Respiratory Viruses When You’re Sick:  https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/prevention/precautions-when-sick.html
  • COVID guidance: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
• State of California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) Cal/OSHA
  • COVID-19 Prevention Non-Emergency Regulations