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Do Your Part: Testing for Baseline

Re: Do Your Part: Testing for Baseline
To: All staff and faculty
Sept. 15, 2020
 
Dear Campus Colleagues,
 
Our COVID-19 testing program for faculty and staff is now entering its third week. Overall, the number of faculty and staff tested has been lower than estimated.
 
Deans, managers, supervisors and department chairs — please ensure that all faculty and staff active on campus more than one day a week, with weekly recurrence, have established their baseline by having two tests.
 
Remember that our continued operation — and potential to increase future operations and services —depend in part on this testing program. As we are all well aware, each of us must do our part to help neutralize COVID-19 so that we can continue to deliver our critical mission of teaching, research and public service.
 
Castle Family Health Centers will continue to administer COVID-19 testing on campus from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Fridays at the UC Merced Gym (Muir Pass). Please register for a testing time and submit the pre-registration form by 10 a.m. on Thursday. Walk-in tests will be allowed, depending on capacity, but may have longer wait times.
 
In partnership with Castle Family Health Centers, we are now able to accept certified results from other testing locations. Instructions can be found at UC Merced COVID-19 Testing page under option 3.
 
I appreciate the patience of those who have already satisfied their two tests or are not required to test and are still being contacted by the COVID Response Center. We are working diligently to improve this process going forward.
 
Finally, on a positive note, our case rates and positivity rates for Merced County yesterday were the lowest they’ve been since June. Let’s continue to drive the figures lower and sustain them as each of us does our part to help our community and campus rebound.
 
Sincerely,
 
Andrew Boyd
Chief Resilience Officer