Announcing COVID Asymptomatic Testing for Select On-Site Employees

November 30, 2020

Dear colleagues:

The University of California Office of the President has recommended that all UC campuses begin COVID-19 PCR testing of asymptomatic employees. Starting next week, on-site employees, as identified by their local HR representative, will be offered PCR testing each week. This program will supplement current testing of all symptomatic employees and is consistent with the asymptomatic testing program offered to students living on campus.

• Participation will be voluntary and will involve swabbing of the front of the nose (nares/nostril swab).
• Employees will receive an email invitation to participate, along with instructions on how to set-up their testing appointment.
• Employees who are experiencing symptoms during their designated testing day, or have a prior history of a positive COVID-19 PCR test within the past 90 days, will be excluded from participating.
• To participate, employees must schedule a testing appointment as soon as they receive the email invitation. Individuals should bring a photo ID to their appointment.
• UCI Center for Occupational and Environmental Health will contact those whose COVID-19 PCR tests are positive.
• Appropriate health privacy and reporting rules will apply.

Symptomatic employees should continue to contact the Center for Occupational and Environmental Health (949) 824-8685 for priority nasopharyngeal testing.

The data collected will help to inform our current COVID-19 prevention strategies (universal masking, entry symptom screening, hand hygiene vigilance, environmental cleaning, and social distancing), and identify potential cases to reduce spread.

For information and details, visit the UCI Coronavirus Testing Website.

Sincerely,

Ramona Agrela
Associate Chancellor and Chief Human Resources Executive