UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES LOS BANOS Offic f the Chancellr 20 April 2021 MEMORANDUM NO. 048 Series of 2021 To All UPLB Constituents SUBJECT Guidelines on COVID-19 RT-PCR Testing of UPLB Constituents at the UHS and CMDL The renewed surge in COVID-19 cases in the country heightens the need for appropriate testing and tracing of probable and suspect COVID-19 cases in the University. The guidelines set forth hereunder provide the procedures for COVID-19 testing of employees, personnel on ICS/JO/COS, and students of UPLB at the University Health Service (UHS) and UPLB COVID-19 Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory (CMDL). |. Schedule of RT-PCR Testing at the UHS and CMDL Swabbing for the Reverse Transcription—Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT- PCR) test is done at the UHS while analysis of samples is done by the CMDL. ‘Swabbing at the UHS is from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. on Mondays to Fridays. UPLB constituents who require testing are advised to set an appointment for swabbing with the UHS Online Medical Check-up via Facebook Messenger (m.me/114679656844685) or through text message at 09531300521 or 09125287553. These communication channels are available from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Mondays to Saturdays (except holidays) ll, Requirements for PhilHealth Coverage of Test Fees Pursuant to the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, PhilHealth will cover the cost of RT-PCR test analysis done by the CMDL of symptomatic PhilHealth members and applicants. PhilHealth will not cover the cost of RT-PCR tests for travel-related purposes, personal or official (e.g. for travel to areas requiring a negative test result for entry). All requests for swabbing at the UHS (for which sample analysis at the CMDL is to be charged to PhilHealth) by UPLB constituents must be accompanied by a certification from the OHMS Officer of their unit, indicating symptoms and a duration 9 (4653) 49536 2567 | (463) 49 536 2894 A (463) 49 536.3673 oeuplbsupeduph —@ wowuplb.edu:ph college, Los Batios, Laguna, Philippines 4031of at least three consecutive days of these symptoms, endorsed by the Unit Head using the fillable OHMS Certification Form (Annex A) The following information and/or documents will be required from UPLB constituents upon reporting for their swabbing appointment at the UHS: 1. Employees, personnel on ICS/JO/COS, and students who are 21 years old or older, who are symptomatic and are PhilHealth members, shall provide their PhilHealth Identification Number (PIN). 2. Students below 21 years of age, who are symptomatic and whose parent is a PhilHealth member, shall provide the PIN of their parent/s. 3. Employees, personnel on ICS/JO/COS, and students who are 21 years old or older, who are symptomatic and are not yet PhilHealth members, shall: a. accomplish the PhilHealth Member Registration Form (PMRF); and b. accomplish the promissory note for CMDL, which will be cancelled once the PhilHealth membership application is approved. 4. Students below 21 years of age, who are symptomatic and whose parent is not a PhilHealth member, shall: a. have their parent/s accomplish the PMRF; and b. accomplish the promissory note for CMDL, which will be cancelled once the PhilHealth membership application of their parent/s is approved. Ill. Requests to Defer Payment for RT-PCR Tests Asymptomatic UPLB employees and personnel on ICS/JO/COS who, on their ‘own volition, get tested at the UHS and CMDL may request to defer payment of the RT-PCR testing fees by signing the attached fillable Promissory Notes (PNs) for the UHS and the CMDL, respectively (Annexes B and C). Deferred payment for the RT-PCR test will be via salary deduction. By default, the required payment will be deducted in equal parts over two months (or four salary periods for personnel on ICS/JO/COS) starting in the next salary period. Alternative modes of salary deductions will apply as follows:4. For personnel on ICS/JO/COS with less than two months remaining on their contract, the required payment will be deducted as a lump sum deduction from their final salary; or 2. For UPLB employees whose take-home pay will fall below the minimum requirement if the deduction is applied, the required payment will be deducted as a lump sum deduction from the next available bonus or incentive. While the forms may be requested at the UHS, personnel are encouraged to bring with them the completed PNs for both the UHS and the CMDL when reporting to the UHS for swabbing to expedite the process. To be allowed to sign the PNs, personnel on ICS/JO/COS must present a copy of their contract of services, where the termination date of their contract is clearly indicated, while UPLB employees are required to present their UPLB ID. IV. Requests for Regimental Testing Considering the limitations of PhilHealth coverage, the University may provide RT-PCR tests for constituents who require testing in line with their services to the university. By virtue of the nature of the activity or as regimentally required to ensure the health and safety of the wider community, the following UPLB constituents may request for RT-PCR testing at the UHS and CMDL: 1. Employees, personnel on ICS/JO/COS, and students who are asymptomatic and will be involved or are expected to take part in a university-related activity (for instance, relief operations of UPLB or field work for UP/UPLB-funded projects) that requires an RT-PCR test; 2. Employees, personnel on ICS/JO/COS, and students who require a repeat RT-PCR test (first repeat swab test only); and 3. Foreign students who were exposed through a university-related activity, whether symptomatic or asymptomatic, and classified as a close contact by the UHS or the Municipal Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (MESU) UPLB constituents eligible to request for RT-PCR testing at the UHS and CMDL should accomplish the appropriate fillable request form, such as, the Employee Request for Testing Form or Student Request for Testing Form (Annexes D and E. repectively). Note that the processing of requests for testing will be fully electronic such that all communications will be via emailThe Unit/Activity Heads are requested to collate the requests of all concerned constituents relating to one activity before endorsing to their Dean/Vice Chancellor, who will endorse requests to the Vice Chancellor for Administration. Once requests are acted upon by the Vice Chancellor for Administration, the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Administration (OVCA) will provide the form to the Unit/Activity Head, who will provide the form (with action taken by the OVCA) to the Requesting Party. If the request for testing is approved, the Requesting Party must then print the approved form for submission to the UHS at their swabbing appointment ky JOSE V. CAMACHO, JR. Chancellor /~ For your guidance.