Wellness Center

July 30 - Important Announcement Regarding Ursinus College COVID-19 Testing

Dear Students,

We write to you today to provide details and instructions regarding our plan for COVID-19 testing prior to your return to campus. Within the next few days, you will also receive a follow-up communication that outlines, in detail, the on-campus testing procedures that will occur weekly for the duration of the fall semester.

We have been working hard on campus this summer to help “Defend our Den.” Steps we have taken include creating outdoor classroom spaces, securing face coverings and PPE for the campus community, establishing one-way patterns in high-traffic areas, and revising our dining policies, to name just a few. But perhaps more than anything, being diligent about regular testing is essential to our shared efforts to keep our campus community as healthy as possible. To do so, we ask each of you to self-quarantine for the two weeks prior to coming to campus, and to take a COVID-19 virus test during that period.

All students who are returning to campus this fall must submit a negative COVID-19 test result prior to their arrival on campus. Students participating in the early drop-off move in process will not be expected to have their results until they move in permanently. This test should be taken within two weeks of your return to campus date and results are to be submitted to the Wellness Center at covidtest@ursinus.edu prior to your arrival.

If your pre-arrival test comes back positive, you must remain off campus until you submit a negative test result to the Wellness Center. We recommend you discuss treatment with your primary care provider or a local doctor.

We recognize that testing for COVID-19 is a complicated process and that these tests will not ensure that all those returning are COVID-free; however, it is an early–and important–part of a comprehensive plan designed specifically to protect the health and safety of our campus. We also recognize that it may be difficult for you to be completely isolated during the two weeks prior to your arrival on campus, but it is essential that you keep your risks as low as practicable: stay home as much as possible, wear a mask outside of your home, practice physical distancing, and avoid high-risk areas such as indoor restaurants, cafés, bars, or parties.

We are also aware that there are delays associated with receiving results for COVID-19 tests. In some areas, it may take over a week to receive results. We acknowledge this and will work with you if you have any problems getting your results in time. However, the expectation will be that COVID-19 results will be received prior to your return to campus, so please plan accordingly.

We have worked closely with Quest Diagnostics and LabCorp to provide two options for students to be tested. Please choose the option that is most convenient for you and your family. If your insurance has a preferred lab (Quest or LabCorp), we recommend that you utilize the one in your network.
The following represents specific instructions from the two labs. Please read each option carefully and follow the instructions closely. This will hopefully minimize any issues that may occur in accessing the test and receiving results in a timely manner.

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Option One (through Quest Diagnostics):

This test requisition form (sent via link in your email) will allow you to be tested at any testing location convenient to you (CVS, Rite Aid, an urgent care, or your primary care physician’s office). Quest will process the results and report them directly to the Wellness Center. We recommend that you also keep a copy of your results as a backup in case there are any issues with Quest’s results being delivered to Ursinus. As previously mentioned, the test results may take over a week. If you are unsure of the location of COVID-19 testing centers in your area, please refer to this list of COVID-19 testing sites: https://go.ursinus.edu/TestingSites.

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Option Two (through LabCorp):

This process will allow for you to request a testing kit be sent to your home. You will self-administer the test based on the provided directions and return the kit through the mail to the lab. This is an excellent choice if you have limited testing sites in your area, or if you would prefer to remain quarantined while undergoing the testing process.

1. Go to https://www.pixel.labcorp.com

2. On the main page, one of the slides reads: “COVID-19 At-Home Kits.” Click on “LEARN MORE.”

3. The next page reads “Access COVID-19 Testing at Home.” Click on “VIEW KIT.”

4. On the page that says “COVID-19 Test (At-Home Kit),” click on “GET STARTED.”

5. The next page will begin the survey. Read this section carefully as it will determine if you are approved for a kit. The survey has three questions:

–Question #1 asks about symptoms. Answer as appropriate for how you currently feel.

–Question #2 asks about exposure. Please click on “Congregate Setting,” as you will be living and/or working in a place where people reside, work, or live communally.

–Question #3 asks about risk. Answer as appropriate for your risk level.

6. If you have followed the directions, the next page should tell you that you are eligible for the testing and ask for a payment option. You may choose to pay for the kit yourself ($119) or enter in your insurance information to pay for the kit. We recommend you use your insurance, as LabCorp has indicated that it should be fully covered.

7. Enter your information carefully so there are no issues in receiving the kit and having it processed by insurance.

8. You should receive the kit within 1-2 days in the mail. There are detailed instructions for self-swabbing (oral swab) and how to return the kit.

9. Results will be sent to you online. Turnaround time may be as long as one week or more, so please plan accordingly. Please send a copy (screenshot, picture, pdf) of your results to covidtest@ursinus.edu.

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After you arrive on campus, you will be expected to participate weekly in college-sponsored virus testing. The college is independently contracting with regional testing firms that will be able to provide rapid results at no cost to you. As we indicated at the beginning of this letter, details about our on-campus testing process will be communicated shortly. However, it is important to acknowledge that should you test positive on campus, you will be isolated from others by either going home, or by staying in separate housing on campus at least until symptoms have fully resolved, as recommended by the CDC.

Thank you for your cooperation in this process. Just like the pandemic, testing resources change rapidly at a national and regional level, and we will continue to adapt as improved options become available. Please be assured that we are engaging multiple testing suppliers for our on-campus testing in an effort to ensure stable and timely testing results on campus.

Testing for COVID-19 prior to returning to campus is essential in our management of the virus. By getting tested, you are helping to protect the health and safety of your family, friends, and the entire Ursinus community. We are grateful for your patience and understanding as we all adapt to this challenging environment. If you have urgent questions about this process, please email covid19@ursinus.edu.

Sincerely,

President Brock Blomberg