Guidelines for Returning to Onsite Work

Updated September 24, 2024

UCSF COVID-19 Guidance

UCSF COVID-19 Policy and Guidance remains UNCHANGED. While the March 1, 2024, Respiratory Virus Guidance issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is intended for general public and community settings, UCSF follows and adheres to stricter guidelines in accordance with health care systems and high-risk congregate settings. For this reason, you may notice a difference in guidance when reading CDC information and should always follow UCSF guidance.

  • The Digital Screener is required for COVID-19 infection reporting and Occupational Health Services (OHS) clearance. It is available through the Mobile App or the Digital Screener website. 
  • Take the Digital Screener for COVID-19 Symptoms and Exposure guidance.  
  • Reminder: Always complete COVID-19 Testing for any symptoms to detect and prevent the spread of COVID-19. Review the UCSF COVID-19 Testing policy.

Return to Work Guidance for Symptoms, Exposure or a COVID Positive Test

Three steps:

  1. Take the Digital Screener. 
  2. Read the automated email. 
  3. Follow the guidance. 

The Digital Screener is your guide to return-to-onsite work or learning for symptoms, exposure and COVID-19 Positive infection. Review the guidance below if you have any of the following:

 

COVID-19 Symptoms 

Take the Digital Screener, read the automated email, and follow the testing and return-to-work guidance as directed. 

  • A single negative COVID-19 PCR test or two negative home-based antigen tests performed at least 48 hours apart.
  • Symptoms are completely gone or improving enough to resume work activities with a negative COVID test. Fever-free for more than 24 hours without fever-reducing medications; diarrhea-free for more than 48 hours if not related to pre-existing conditions; feeling ready to return-to-onsite work; if working in a *high-risk unit, symptoms must be GONE.
  • If you have mild symptoms, meet the symptom criteria above and need to return to work/campus, you may meet return to work/campus after obtaining the 1st negative/not detected result. You must adhere to the following conditions until you complete the second negative home antigen test:
    • Wear a well-fitted mask at all times
    • Mask in break rooms
    • Eat/drink separately from others
  • Once criteria is met, you can self-clear back to work or learning via the Digital Screener.

 

COVID-19 Exposures

Take the Digital Screener, read the automated email, and follow the testing and return-to-work guidance as directed. 

  • All persons with COVID-19 exposures require a negative COVID-19 test before entering UCSF facilities.
  • Home Antigen or PCR tests are acceptable immediately after exposure awareness, and again on day 3 and day 5 after exposure.
  • Employees and learners with COVID-19 exposures must attest to the following criteria listed below:
    • Must be asymptomatic
    • Must have completed the required COVID-19 testing protocol
    • Wear a well-fitted mask in all areas at all times until 10 days following exposure
  • Monitor symptoms twice daily, including temperature checks, for 14 days from day zero of exposure.
    • Agree to leave work immediately if you develop any symptoms or test positive for COVID-19. If you have symptoms or a positive test, report through the UCSF Digital Screener and/or contact the UCSF Occupational Health Services- COVID Response Team at (415) 514-7328.
  • Once criteria is met, you can self-clear back to work or learning via the Digital Screener. 

 

COVID-19 Positive Test: Reporting REQUIRED

Individuals MUST take the Digital Screener, read the automated email, and follow the testing and return-to-work guidance, as directed. 

  • Day 0 is symptom onset (or positive test date if asymptomatic).
  • Immunocompromised persons and those experiencing symptoms for more than 20 days must contact the UCSF Occupational Health Services-COVID Response Team for return-to-work guidance at (415) 514-7328.

Those eligible for shortened isolation (returning to work/learning BEFORE 10-day isolation period) MUST agree to the following criteria: 

  • Must not have immunocompromised conditions. See page 6 of the UCSF Continue to Work-Return to Work Guidelines for Staff
  • Symptoms are completely gone or improving enough to resume work activities. Fever-free for more than 24 hours without fever-reducing medications; diarrhea-free for more than 48 hours if not related to pre-existing conditions; feeling ready to return to onsite work/learn; if working in a high-risk unit (i.e., Mission Bay: C3 ICN, C6 BMT, C6 Heme/Onc, and Birth Center and Parnassus 11 and 12 Long), symptoms must be GONE.
  • One Negative Rapid Home Antigen test collected between Day 5 and Day 10
    • Photo or PDF of Negative Home Antigen test including name, date of birth and date the test was collected MUST be emailed to [email protected].  
  • If you have a Negative Home Antigen test collected Day 5 or later AND meet the symptom criteria, employees and learners may return on site Day 6 or later.
  • Masking: Wear a well-fitted mask in all areas at all times until Day 10 

Those returning to work/learning AFTER a 10-day isolation period MUST agree to the following criteria: 

  • Must not have immunocompromised conditions. See page 6 of the UCSF Continue to Work-Return to Work Guidelines for Staff
  • Symptoms are completely gone or improving enough to resume work activities. Fever-free for more than 24 hours without fever-reducing medications; diarrhea-free for more than 48 hours if not related to pre-existing conditions; feeling ready to return to onsite work/learn; if working in a *high-risk unit, symptoms must be GONE. 

If you have recently recovered from a COVID infection and are experiencing new symptoms, or if you have learned you were recently exposed, complete the UCSF Digital Screener or contact the Occupational Health Services-COVID Response Team for further guidance at (415) 514-7328. 

Questions?

  • San Francisco and Fresno: Call the UCSF Occupational Health Services-COVID Response Team at  (415) 514-7328. 
  • Oakland: Call BCH-Oakland Employee Health at  (510) 428-3620 and select Option #4. 
  • Students: Call the UCSF Occupational Health Services-COVID Response Team at  (415) 514-7328.

 

Self-Report a Positive COVID-19 Test

To help prevent the spread of COVID-19, UCSF has enacted an organization-wide policy requiring all personnel working, learning, visiting or contracted at all UCSF campuses who have tested positive for COVID-19 to self-report their positive test result to the appropriate UCSF department; see below. This includes but is not limited to UCSF Fresno, Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland, Zuckerberg SFGH, SFVA, satellite facilities, etc., and those working remotely. This policy applies whether working on property owned or leased by UCSF or working remotely (hybrid, telecommuting etc.), paid or unpaid.

  • Employees, faculty, researchers and volunteers etc., working at UCSF are required to self-report their positive test result by completing the Digital Screener, calling the UCSF Occupational Health Services – COVID Response Team at (415) 514-7328 or emailing [email protected]. 
  • UCSF students (and non-UCSF students) are required to self-report their positive test result by completing the Digital Screener, calling the UCSF Occupational Health Services – COVID Response Team at (415) 514-7328 or emailing [email protected]. 
  • Non-UCSF individuals who provide services for UCSF (onsite vendors, contractors, visiting personnel etc.) are required to self-report a positive COVID-19 test result to UCSF Occupational Health Services – COVID Response Team by calling (415) 514-7328 or emailing [email protected]. If access has been granted, complete the Digital Screener to report a positive COVID-19 test result. 
  • Benioff Children’s Hospital-Oakland are required to self-report their positive test result by completing the Digital Screener, calling the BCH Oakland Employee Health Services – COVID Response Team at (510) 428-3620 opt. 4, or emailing [email protected].

Self-reporting a positive COVID-19 test result will allow the UCSF Occupational Health Services – COVID Response Team to provide individualized guidance on how to best manage their condition, prevent exposure to others and provide guidance for returning to campus when return to work criteria has been met. For past cases, self-reporting will allow UCSF to better respond to reinfections, should they occur in the future, and for contact tracing.

UCSF honors the privacy of our community and confidentiality obligations. Personal medical information will be safeguarded and used only for limited, health-related purposes, including to perform contact tracing or other activities to address employee, faculty, student and patient safety as directed by UCSF Occupational Health Services – COVID Response Team and Infection Prevention Services. This information will be maintained only in the appropriate health records, separate from employee personnel files or student records. Self-reporting to supervisors or advisors is not required.

This self-reporting policy will remain in effect until further notice. Questions about this policy can be addressed to Occupational Health Services – COVID Response Team at [email protected].

Request for Anonymity for AB 685 Notification Purposes

AB 685 requires the University of California to notify exclusive union representatives of the names of employees who have tested positive for COVID-19 and who worked onsite during the infectious period. Under 8 CCR 14300.29(b)(7), employees may request that their names not be included in such notifications so long as such a request is voluntary and independent.