Elon University students, faculty and staff will be required to get a coronavirus test before arriving on campus this fall. The testing is required in order to participate in fall semester.
Once the test is conducted, students are instructed to quarantine before returning to campus. Students will not be allowed to return to campus if they do not quarantine, according to new details from Elon University’s Ready & Resilient committee.
“You and your close contacts must limit all potential exposure in the two weeks before coming to campus,” according to the committee. “If you are unable to do so, please do not come to campus and risk others’ health.”
Students, faculty and staff are required to mail-in tests prior to their return to campus, using a PCR test from LabCorp. LabCorp offers a at home PCR collection kit.
To receive the test, students, faculty and staff will be able to access and request testing through an online testing portal beginning July 23.
The university said it will charge students $129 in September for the pre-semester mail-in test. Faculty and staff will have their tests paid for by the school.
After receiving test results, students can submit relevant documents to their health insurance provider to request reimbursement for the test’s cost.
Those with financial challenges will be able to apply for a fee waiver in early September.
Students will not be required to pay for subsequent tests throughout the semester.
Students, faculty and staff who have previously tested positive for the virus will not be required to take another test. This is despite anecdotal evidence that people are not immune to the virus after testing positive.
“We do not know to what degree or duration persons are protected against reinfection with SARS-CoV-2 following recovery from COVID illness,” the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website states.
By mailing this sample students give permission for LabCorp to complete the coronavirus test and notify the university’s physician of the test results. For faculty and staff, results may be shared with human resources.
The university is also finalizing plans on randomized testing and testing symptomatic for faculty, staff and students.
Students are only allowed to bring two family members to help them move in. Freshmen have assigned move-in times on August 14 and 15 while returning students have assigned times on August 17 and 18.
As of July 17, eight Elon University community members have reported positive cases of the coronavirus: three students living on campus, two students living off campus and three staff members.
Elon News Network reached out to Vice President for Strategic Initiatives and Chair of the Ready & Resilient Committee Jeff Stein, but he didn’t immediately respond for comment.