Updated September 26, 2022
UCSF Revises Return to On-Site Work Guidelines – NEW
With decreasing COVID-19 infection rates in the Bay Area and among UCSF employees and learners, the UCSF enterprise-wide COVID-19 impact level is now “Medium.” The following updates/changes are now in place in the Daily Health Screener and COVID Hotline:
1.Test Clearance for COVID-19Symptoms.In addition to Color and PCR tests, home-based antigen testing is now an option for returning to work with COVID-like symptoms.This option requires TWO negative antigen tests performed atleast24hours apart. Further details, instructions andOccupational Health Services (OHS) clearance letters are posted in the Daily Health Screener.
2.High-Risk COVID-19 Exposure Clearance.For persons with unprotected, close contact for more than 15 minutes with a COVID-confirmed individual in the previous 10 days, a negative COVID-19 test result is required before entering UCSF facilities. This can be achieved with a negative Color or PCR test, or with a negative home-based antigen test coupled with a Color test submitted on the first day onsite.Additional COVID tests will be required based on the number of days since first exposure.More details, instructions andOHS clearance letters are posted in the Daily Health Screener.
3.International Travel Guidance.Post-international-travel testing is strongly recommended for individuals who are up to date on their vaccinations (initial vaccination and at least one booster) but is no longer required for entry to UCSF facilities. Individuals who are NOT up to date on their vaccinations arestill requiredto take a PCR or Color test within 24 hours and again 3-5 days after entry to campus within 10 days of international travel.
Home Antigen testing documentation requirements:If home antigen testing is used to meet the testing requirements, the following steps are required:
- Photos of both negative test result that include your name and date of birth must be emailed to[emailprotected]prior to entry.
- You can send one photo or two separate photos.
- To capture this information in a photo, consider writing your name/date of birth on a piece of paper and placing the test result(s) on the paper.
- BCH Oakland employees must send negative test results to[emailprotected]
Updated September 23, 2022
With decreasing COVID-19 infection rates in the Bay Area and UCSF employees and students, the UCSF Enterprise COVID Impact Level is “Medium”. The following updates/changes are now in place in the Daily Health Screener and COVID Hotline:
- Test Clearance for COVID Symptoms. In addition to Color and PCR tests, home-based antigen testing is now an option for returning to work with COVID-like symptoms. This option requires TWO negative antigen tests performed at least24 hours apart
.Further details, instructions andOHS Clearance Letters are present in the Daily Health Screener. - High-Risk COVID Exposure Clearance. For persons with unprotected, close contact for more than 15 minutes to a COVID-confirmed individual in the previous 10 days, a negative COVID test result is required before entering UCSF facilities. This can be achieved with a negative Color or PCR test, or with a negative home-based antigen test coupled with a Color test submitted on the first day onsite. Additional COVID tests will be required based on the number of days since first exposure. Further details, instructions andOHS Clearance Letters are present in the Daily Health Screener.
- International Travel Guidance. Post-travel international travel testing is strongly recommended, but no longer required for entry to UCSF facilities.
Home Antigen testing documentation requirements: If home antigen testing is used to meet the testing requirements, the following steps are required:
- Photos of both negative test result that include your name and date of birth must be emailed to [emailprotected] prior to entry.
- You can send one photo or two separate photos.
- To capture this information in a photo, consider writing your name/date of birth/date of test on a piece of paper and placing the test result(s) on the paper.
Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
What do I do if I never got the MyChart test order?
It may take a couple of days but should arrive by dayfive. Confirm you reported your COVID positive test in the Daily Health Screener and that you completed your Contact Tracing survey.
I don’t have MyChart. How do I schedule the UCSF antigen test?
Please call the COVID Hotline at (415) 514-7328.
What do I do if I never got the contact tracing survey link?
Check your email box that you entered in the Daily Health Screener when you reported your COVID infection. If you still cannot find it, try reporting your COVID infection in the Daily Health Screener again and make sure you get to the end of the questions.
What do I do if I completed the Daily Health Screener and contact tracing butnevergotthe OHS clearance email?
Check your email box that you entered in the Daily Health Screener when you reported your COVID infection. If you still can’t find it, try reporting your COVID infection in the Daily Screener again and make sure you get to the end of the questions. Please contact the COVID Response Team at (415) 514-7328 if you still did not receive your letter.
Do I have to take the Daily Health Screener every day I am working on-site?
Yes. The Daily Health Screener is required prior to coming on-site for all UCSF employees and learners, regardless of vaccination status.
Do I need to wear a mask indoors?
Masking requirements depend on the area. Please see the indoor masking policy here.
Does UCSF still have social distancing requirements?
UCSF no longer requires social distancing in indoor non-patient care settings or classrooms unless food and/or beverages are being consumed. In patient care areas where patients and visitors can be present, all employees (regardless of vaccination status) are expected to distance greater than six (6) feet, or as much as possible, from other persons, as able in their usual workflow. When eating or drinking indoors safe physical distancing of six feet should be maintained if possible.
Can I eat or drink at my desk or workstation?
Indoor food and drinks are allowed at campus locations. Indoor food and drinks at UCSF Health locations are limited to designated dining or break areas.
Can I eat outdoors?
Yes. Outdoor food and drinks are allowed at any site and location.
How has building access changed?
Most buildings are restricted to a single point of entry to ensure compliance with UCSF safety protocols. You can read more about the policy here: https://coronavirus.ucsf.edu/campus-protocols#buildings
Are UCSF buildings equipped with proper ventilation/filtration?
UCSF Facilities has reviewed the ventilation and filtration in each campus building. Fortunately, due San Francisco’s moderate climate and enhanced laboratory ventilation, many building systems were already designed for 100 percent outside air. In other cases, office ventilation has been adjusted to maximize the amount of outside air and limit the amount of recirculation wherever possible.
All classrooms, office areas, and conference rooms have been checked to ensure they meet the minimum amount of air changes per U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines. In almost all instances airflow was adequate or met the CDC guidelines. Air scrubbers have been deployed in a handful of areas where the airflow was found to be below guidelines.
UCSF Health also has reviewed the ventilation and filtration for buildings falling under its purview. Due to the Bay Area’smoderate climate and hospital requirements, many systems were already designed for 100 percent outside air.
In a few cases, specific environments have been modified to accommodate COVID-specific demands during the current operational period.Clinical, as well as public spaces, have been checked to ensure they meet the minimum amount of air changes, quality and pressurization per CDC and governing regulatory guidelines.
Is UCSF providing COVID-19 tests for faculty, staff, and learners?
UCSF offers free COVID-19 testing to faculty, staff, and learners. Please note Color tests are only for faculty, staff, and learners. Members of the UCSF community can access the vending machines by swiping their UCSF identification badge to get a Color test kit. If the vending machines are empty, Color test kits are available at campus security desk locations. Check here for more information about pick-up and/or drop-offlocations and hours.
What if I do not feel comfortable coming back on-site yet? What are my options?
You should work with your supervisor about your concerns. UCSF complies with all COVID-19 public health orders/standards from California Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and California Department of Public Health to ensure a safe work environment.
Will I be able to work remotely if I have a child who is quarantined due to an exposure at childcare or school?
You should discuss with your supervisor what your normal on-site work schedule is expected to be and if it can be flexed based on unforeseen circumstances such as a family member’s need to quarantine.
What are my leave options if I need to take time off to care for a sick or quarantined family member?
UC Office of the President (UCOP) announced additional Emergency Paid Sick Leave hours for 2022 (2022 EPSL) on Feb. 23, 2022. Full-time employees are eligible for up to 80 hours of paid leave (and two-week equivalent for part-time employees) for use when they cannot work due to COVID-19 related qualifying reasons through Sept. 30, 2022. More information on the program can be found here. You can work with your HR Generalist (use the Find Your HR Representative tool) to determine what leave options may be available to you.
Are security escorts still available?
Yes, if you need to request a safety escort (for example, to get to your car or a destination within a reasonable distance) at acampuslocation, eithercall or stop by any security service desk, or call(415) 476-1414and a police officer will provide the service. However, depending on call volume, there may be a delay in response times.
Safety escorts are also available at all UCSF Medical Center locations (Parnassus Heights, Mission Bay, and Mount Zion) by contacting UCSF Security Services at(415) 885-7890.
UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland employees should call the Security CommCenter at (510) 428-3600.
What if I find that my office equipment and supplies are missing?
If you are returning to the office to find that equipment and supplies are no longer there, you can order through the BearBuy store: https://supplychain.ucsf.edu/bearbuy
I am not sure how to set up my IT workspace, who can help?
Please contact the IT Service Desk if you need assistance setting up your IT workspace: [emailprotected]
Who do I contact if I am having trouble printing from my office printer?
Please contact the UCSF Print Management Program (PMP) by emailing[emailprotected]for assistance.Your email will auto-generate a ServiceNow ticket and place it in the PMP team queue. If it is a PMP-enrolled device, be sure to include the four-digit DM# located on the sticker on the device.The PMP team will follow-up during regular business hours Monday through Friday.
What if I need a new UCSF identification (ID) badge?
Employees with an expired ID badge will need to contact HR to make sure their appointment/affiliation is extended. Please confirm your name, work title, department and credentials using the UCSF Directory https://directory.ucsf.edu/ If this information is correct then you can book your appointment for a new or replacement ID card. If it is not correct, you will need to work with your HR representative.
Students can check your profile (name, title and school) in the Student Portal.
For non-UCSF Health replacement appointments, please use the online appointment maker https://police.ucsf.edu/weid/make-appointment. Or you may call (415) 476-2088 and leave a clear message (name and best phone number) and your call will be returned as soon as possible.
You will need a valid government issued photo ID (driver’s license or passport) at WeID. WeID does not accept copies or images on a phone.
For UCSF Health ID cards, please contact Hospital Security for direction on processing or replacing a medical center ID.
Campus: https://police.ucsf.edu/weid
UCSF Health: https://safety.ucsf.edu/photo-id-visitor-badges
How do I purchase a parking permit?
The University no longer administers payroll deductions for parking.
Monthly and daily UCSF employee parking passes need to be purchased using the mobile app: paybyphone (or paybyphone.com). When paying with paybyphone, use code 401608 to receive the employee rate.
Your parking is valid at any UCSF parking facility, you receive in-and-out privileges, and you can park at more than one campus in a day, if needed. Please be prepared to show your payment confirmation and UCSF ID to the attendant when exiting parking garages.
A handful of permit types (student, N, L, or Surge/Woods Lot) can be purchased via paymyinvoice.ucsf.edu.
Is there additional parking at Parnassus Heights besides the Ambulatory Care Center (ACC) Garage?
Paybyphone is valid at the following two UCSF lots, which are often less used than the ACC garage.
- Westside/Kirkham Surface Lot, 10 Kirham Street
- Beckman/Koret Surface Lot, 50 Kirkham Street
There are non-UCSF parking facilities near Parnassus Heights that are available to UCSF employees at comparable rates. Note that paybyphone cannot be used. These sites are:
- Kezar Lot, 825 Stanyan Street, Monthly Rate: $251, Hours of Operation: 24/7
- Parnassus Heights Medical Center, 350 Parnassus Avenue, Monthly Rate: $285, Hours of Operation: 6 a.m.-10 p.m., Monday through Friday
Are there restrictions at the Mission Bay Medical Center Parking Facility (1825 Owens Street)?
Yes, the 24-hour discounted rate is not available at the Mission Bay Medical Center parking facility located at 1835 Owens Street for those entering between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Monthly parkers may continue to always park on floors 4 through 10 of the garage, but use of alternate locations is strongly encouraged.
The $24 daily rate can be used 24/7 at all nearby UCSF facilities, including these convenient garages:
- Third Street Garage, 1650 Third Street
- Rutter/Community Center Garage, 1625 Owens Street
Are there pre-tax commuter benefits?
The pre-tax Commuter Benefit (Edenred) Mastercard is accepted at all UCSF and non-UCSF parking facilities listed above. Pre-tax dollars can also be used for public transit. For more information about commuter benefits, visit: https://campuslifeservices.ucsf.edu/transportation/services/pretax_savings_program
Additional parking information is available on the transportation/parking website: https://campuslifeservices.ucsf.edu/transportation/services/parking