University recommends weekend testing for students

A+student+walks+past+the+Foellinger+Auditorium+COVID-19+testing+tent+on+the+Main+Quad+on+Aug.+21.+According+to+a+Massmail+sent+on+Thursday%2C+students+will+be+granted+building+access+from+the+time+they+receive+a+negative+test+result+until+11%3A59+p.m.+on+the+fourth+day+after+they+take+the+test.

Kenyon Edmond

A student walks past the Foellinger Auditorium COVID-19 testing tent on the Main Quad on Aug. 21. According to a Massmail sent on Thursday, students will be granted building access from the time they receive a negative test result until 11:59 p.m. on the fourth day after they take the test.

By Aliza Majid, Staff Writer

The University is encouraging students to adjust their testing schedules to include one weekend day, according to a Massmail sent Thursday. 

The University recommends students select the weekend testing schedules of Wednesdays paired with Saturdays or Sundays to avoid the long queue. 

The testing sites for the weekends will increase in capacity to accommodate the influx of students. 

Additionally, students, faculty and staff must test negative for the virus at a minimum of every four days to get building access, and the expiration time has been clarified. 

“You will be in compliance and have Access Granted status for building entry from the time you receive your negative test results until 11:59 on the fourth day after you take the test,” the Massmail reads.

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For example, a student who tests on Monday and gets a negative result will be granted building access until Friday at 11:59 p.m.

The email reminders that were sent before students’ recommended testing dates will no longer be available because “they have unintentionally led to more confusion.”

Test results should be available 48 hours after the test has been completed.

Some testing sites will be open on Labor Day, but students should be aware their testing dates may be subject to change during that week as many operations may halt operations until Tuesday.

The University is currently working on a function that checks what times and locations are least busy to help students determine which testing sites they should go to.

For further information, visit the On-Campus COVID-19 testing page or email [email protected]

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