COVID-19 Campus Resources and Guidelines
Environment, Health and Safety COVID-19 information and resources.
Alert
The UC San Diego Return to Learn program has been discontinued. It began in May 2020 as a strategic response to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, UC San Diego was able to resume full on-campus operations in fall, 2021 and has served as a best practice model for other institutions. Based on this, we will now be adopting current COVID-19 regulations as outlined by Cal/OSHA. We will also continue to use all that we have learned over the last few years while embracing more personal responsibility for our individual health and well-being.
Current Workplace Safety and Health Regulations for Employees
Campus Requirement
- Supervisors must communicate COVID-19 safety measures to workers.
- Employees and visitors must follow the campus Symptom Screening Guidance (see section below)
- All employees must complete the COVID-19 Prevention Training.
Symptom Screening
Even though the Daily Symptom Screener is no longer required, students and employees must still use the COVID-19 Symptom Screener for the following reasons:
- If you are symptomatic and have been exposed to COVID-19
- If you tested positive for COVID-19
Follow the instructions provided by the Symptom Screener and the contact tracer.
Complete the COVID-19 symptom and exposure screening registration form »
Complete the COVID-19 symptom and exposure screening »
Face Coverings and PPE
Masking is currently optional, except for the following areas:
- In all indoor areas for those who:
- Are completing their isolation after testing positive for COVID-19
- Have been exposed to COVID-19
- Are symptomatic but test negative for COVID-19 (must mask until symptoms resolve)
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.
Masking is currently optional for all students, faculty and staff outdoors.
Please continue to respect the decision of others if they choose to mask. We encourage anyone who feels more comfortable wearing a mask to do so, as masking remains one of the easiest and most effective ways to reduce the spread of the virus.
Visit Ordering COVID-19 PPE for a list of available items and ordering guidance.
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 for Voluntary Use.
UC San Diego Health Masking
Details about masking guidelines for UC San Diego Health employees can be found on Pulse. Patients and visitors can find more information on the UC San Diego Health Visitor Information webpage.
Vaccination Requirements
The UC Vaccination policy currently applies. Vaccination remains one of the best ways to protect yourself from infection and severe disease. Visit the following links for information and guidelines about UC San Diego's vaccination policy:
COVID Testing
Symptomatic testing will no longer be required for students and employees, but it is strongly recommended. It is recommended that you test 3 to 5 days after exposure to COVID-19 or if you develop symptoms consistent with COVID-19.
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 both PCR test kits as well as rapid antigen tests. Students and employees will need their campus ID card to retrieve a test. Currently, PCR samples are processed daily, with an average time of 24 hours to receive results.
Vending machine locations
PCR samples are picked up Monday through Friday at 2 p.m. and Saturdays at 11 a.m. There is no pick-up on Sunday. Rapid antigen tests are available 24/7.
- 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)
Student Housing and Isolation
If you have symptoms, stay home. Do a COVID-19 PCR or rapid antigen test, which can be found at campus test kit vending machines. Isolate yourself while waiting for the results.
If you receive a positive result (from either a COVID rapid antigen test or a PCR test done outside of UC San Diego), please report it to the UC San Diego Public Health Team at QHC-EOC@ucsd.edu.
Depending on clinical and living situations, students living on campus may need to isolate in place or you may be moved to isolation housing. Students with an on-campus housing contract will not be charged extra for isolation housing. See HDH Updates for more information.
Individuals who have tested positive are encouraged to reach out to their close contacts with exposure information.
If you need more urgent assistance please contact Student Health at (858) 534-3300, or for severe symptoms, please go to the emergency room or call 9-1-1. Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) are available by calling (858) 534-3755. You may also find more information on their website at caps.ucsd.edu.
If you are an undergraduate student and your COVID-19 diagnosis and isolation has prevented you from meeting academic requirements, we encourage you to contact your Dean of Student Affairs for support.
Dashboard and Notifications
The UC San Diego COVID-19 Dashboard provides data on UC San Diego students and campus employees (including general campus and Scripps Institution of Oceanography). It excludes employees from UC San Diego Health and UC San Diego Health Sciences, who are now monitored by UC San Diego Health.
The Required Notification of Potential Exposure Building Locations will be distributed once monthly to campus and daily to supervisors and employees in affected worksites. Any additional information will be communicated to the campus community in a timely fashion either through a campus notice and/or through the UC San Diego Today campus newsletter.
Employee Benefits & Workers’ Compensation
As a University of California employee, you may be entitled to various benefits under applicable federal and state laws and University‐specific policies and agreements, including, but not necessarily limited to, the following:
- For policy‐covered and represented employees: regular sick leave; vacation leave; workers’ compensation
- For academic personnel: sick leave; vacation leave; workers’ compensation:
All COVID-19-related paid leaves ended on 12/31/2022. Employees who do not have leave accruals may be eligible for the Catastrophic Leave Donation Program.
If you have questions about these benefits, staff may contact UC San Diego Human Resources at employeerelations@ucsd.edu. For Academics, please contact your department AP/HR Analyst.
If you believe you contracted COVID as a result of your employment at UC San Diego, you may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. If you would like more information, please visit Workers' Compensation. To file a Workers’ Compensation claim, please complete and submit an incident report form.