Re: COVID-19 Testing Update
To: All staff and faculty
Sept. 22, 2020
Dear Campus Colleagues,
Our COVID-19 testing program for faculty and staff is now entering the final week for baseline testing. Remember, if you are a designated employee working at any UC Merced site (onsite at least once a week with weekly recurrence), you are required to get tested for COVID-19.
Castle Family Health Centers will be on campus one last time this Friday at the UC Merced Gym (Muir Pass) from 9 - 11 a.m. to continue to administer COVID-19 testing. Please register for a testing time and submit the pre-registration form by 10 a.m. Thursday. Walk-in tests will be allowed, depending on capacity, but may have longer wait times.
Testing is still available Castle's clinic in Atwater and, as mentioned last week, Castle Family Health Centers will be able to accept certified results from other testing locations. More information on both of these options can be found here: UC Merced COVID-19 Testing page.
Beginning the week of Oct. 5 the “Lot Quality” program will begin, in which a percentage of the active campus population will be selected to take a follow-up COVID-19 test. Individuals who are randomly selected will be notified by the COVID Response Center and will be asked to complete a COVID-19 test at Castle Family Health Centers in Atwater within a given time period. This program will be ongoing throughout the semester and is intended to help prevent the spread and ensure continuity of our critical mission of teaching, research and public service.
The Merced County positivity rates are continuing to decline, which is excellent news. 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
