COVID-19 Testing for Commuter Students and Employees

The following message was sent to commuter students, faculty and Elmhurst University employees by the COVID-19 Task Force Co-Chairs on Friday, Aug. 27, 2020:

We are actively preparing for students and University employees to return to campus, knowing that due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, campus life will look and feel very different this fall.

One important component of a safe return to campus is COVID-19 testing. In recent weeks, you have likely read about the shortage of tests and long waiting periods to receive test results. The uncertainty around some of these aspects of testing impacted our plans, but we now are confident enough about testing availability and reliability to recommend it—not only for residential students but also for all faculty, staff and commuter students.

So we strongly encourage you to obtain a COVID-19 test prior to returning to campus. To assist with this recommendation, free on-campus testing will be available next Wednesday through Friday (August 26–28) from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. daily. Testing will take place under white tents in front of Hammerschmidt Memorial Chapel.

You can reserve your testing time using the link that was sent to your Elmhurst email address along with this message.

The tests will be self-administered nasal swabs (PCR), and we have confidence that the results will be returned within 48 hours. If your test result is positive, please follow the Screening and Testing guidelines outlined in the Bluejays Unite! document on page 7.

• All residential students are required to provide evidence of a negative COVID-19 test, taken within five days of their scheduled move-in date.
• We will provide on-campus testing for those unable to obtain a test prior to coming to campus. Those plans are already in place, and the first round of testing for early-arrival students will begin today, Aug. 21
• All students will be provided with masks and hand sanitizer, and residential students will be provided with thermometers; and non-contact temperature-taking devices will be placed in the public spaces of over 25 campus buildings.
• After this initial round of testing, we will introduce a testing plan that involves random and targeted testing at regular intervals throughout the Fall Term. In addition, testing will be available for any individuals exhibiting symptoms.

Thank you for all you’re doing to ensure the health and safety of our Elmhurst University community. Visit our COVID-19 Updates website for frequently updated information and an informative video series about our Fall Term 2020 planning. If you have questions or concerns, please contact covid19questions@elmhurst.edu.

Sincerely,

Dr. Phil Riordan
Dr. Dean Pribbenow
COVID-19 Task Force Co-Chairs