WVSU to begin Surveillance testing for COVID-19 next week

9/30/2020

---

WVSU to begin Surveillance testing for COVID-19 next week
 
West Virginia State University (WVSU) will begin surveillance testing for COVID-19 next week on Tuesday, October 6, that will continue throughout the remainder of the fall semester.
 
Testing next week will take place Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday (October 6-8).
 
Beginning the week of October 12 and through the remainder of the fall semester, testing will take place on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
 
The goal of the on-going surveillance testing is to test 10 percent of the University’s population each week for COVID-19.
 
The University’s Office of Safety and Compliance, Athletic Department and FamilyCare Health Center are partnering to deliver the COVID-19 tests each week.
 
In the surveillance testing, the University will be testing a random cross section from the campus community, including those who may have no symptoms. The goal is to help detect potentially infected individuals and to keep them from infecting others.
 
FamilyCare Health Center will be performing tests on randomly selected groups of students, faculty and staff. The Athletics Department training staff will be performing COVID-19 testing on the University’s student-athletes and athletic staff.
 
FamilyCare Health Center will be conducting the tests in their clinic, located in the Wilson University Union from 9 a.m. to noon. If you are selected for testing you will be asked to schedule an appointment by calling (304) 766-3323.
 
It is very important that if you are selected for testing that you participate. The more people who are tested, the better opportunity there is to stop outbreaks of COVID-19 on our campus and to keep our campus community safe
.
Here is some additional information about the process:

• The goal is to test approximately 200 individuals each week.
• The testing will be done via a saliva collection test.
• The tests will be processed with an expected turnaround for results within 24-48 hours.
• All testing will be free of charge to those selected.
• If you are selected for testing, please bring your WVSU ID with you to the testing location.
• Bring your smart phone, if you have one. It will be used to register the sample. If you do not have a smart phone, a computer will be made available to register.
• If you are selected for testing, you cannot eat, drink, chew gum, smoke or vape for 30 minutes before the testing.
• Testing information will be kept confidential.
• You may be selected for testing more than once during the surveillance period.
• Summary testing data, including the number of tests done and the number of positives, will be posted on the university’s coronavirus dashboard, which is updated each Friday.
• Employees will be provided release time to be tested during work hours and are not required to use meal or break periods.
• Everyone will need to wear a face covering and remain physically distanced from others during the testing.

Additional updates will be provided through University communications channels, including social media and the University’s coronavirus webpage www.wvstateu.edu/coronavirus.

If you have any questions, please contact University Safety & Chemical Hygiene Officer Joseph Davenport at (304) 204-4060 or joseph.davenport@wvstateu.edu.