COVID-19 Information
COVID-19 Test Availability
The Campus Health Center continues to provide free rapid testing to students and employees, who have been exposed to a COVID-19 positive person or are symptomatic.
- Request a single take home rapid test at the CHC.
- Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing requires an appointment.
Employees must receive supervisor approval to pick up a rapid test or have a PCR test performed during work hours or may attend during their non-work schedule.
COVID-19 Test Types and Process
Rapid/Antigen: Point-of-Care tests are diagnostic tests which provide results within minutes.
PCR: Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test to detect SARS-CoV-2 in upper and lower respiratory specimens. Tests may take anywhere from 24 hours to 7 days to process depending on current case rates. If the individual is symptomatic with a negative rapid test result, they are asked to also take a PCR test. Nasopharyngeal sample demonstration.
- PCRs will be billed to the individual's insurance. Coverage for testing varies by plan.
- There is no out-of-pocket cost or copay for processing a PCR at the Campus Health Center.
COVID-19 Testing during evenings, weekends and campus holidays
Free COVID testing in Monterey County and in Santa Cruz County,
Doctors on Duty (DOD) clinics do not offer free rapid testing. If the CSUMB campus community visits a DOD clinic on evenings, weekends or campus holidays:
- Students will be charged for the rapid test, but not the appointment if they show their CSUMB ID.
- Faculty/Staff will be charged for both the rapid test and the appointment
- PCR tests are billed to student and employee’s insurance
Employees, all Monterey County residents are eligible for testing, regardless of insurance status. Although OptumServe will bill your insurance company for testing, there is no out-of-pocket cost to the patient. To make an appointment, visit the website or call 888-634-1123. You may learn more about Community Testing Sites on the County of Monterey Health Department webpage.
Isolation and Close Contact Guidance
CSUMB follows the California Department of Public Health's isolation and close contact guidelines. Isolation guidance details will be provided to each confirmed positive case by the Exposure Tracing Analyst and Human Resources or Corporation Human Resources representatives. See Exposure Tracing Process.
For AY 2023-2024, employees and students are still required to complete the confidential and secure COVID-19 reporting form if:
- If you test at an off campus testing site and the test result is positive.
- If you test off campus and your result is negative on a rapid test and you are waiting for the results of a PCR test.
- Regardless of presently being on or off campus, if you are exposed to someone who is COVID-19 positive.
- Anyone can submit the COVID-19 Positive Reporting Form for someone who is too ill to self-submit or have disclosed to you that they are positive and they have not submitted a report. Either inform the student or employee to submit a COVID-19 Reporting form or tell them you will do it for them. You will need to keep them on the phone until you complete the necessary information on the report.