USU is adding a testing center to meet demands from governor’s mandate
Utah State University is working to add another Coronavirus testing center to help with the weekly testing mandated by Utah Gov. Gary Herbert Sunday evening.
“Our hope is that all students will be tested,” USU spokesperson Tim Vitale said.
Currently, Maverik Stadium is being used for COVID-19 testing. However, the governor’s order will require that more students are tested more frequently.
As a result, the university is setting up another facility to make it easier for students to access COVID testing.
Although Vitale said, “the details are still being worked on,” he suggested the new testing facility could be somewhere on Logan’s main campus.
Students with symptoms, or anyone who would like to get tested immediately, can still access Maverik Stadium.
Information about the new testing facility should be sent out in the next few days.
According to Vitale, although it may be difficult to ensure that everyone gets tested, he has faith that students will do the right thing.
“I think students recognize how important this is,” he said. “We are in a pandemic. I think students recognize the risk to their communities and their families if they don’t get tested.”
Students who only take classes online are not required to get tested. However, Vitale said he still hopes everyone will want to be evaluated.
“We have a predicament now with students going home for Thanksgiving break,” he said. “We don’t want them taking something back to their communities. We knew we had to jump on this and take action.”
Although he believes USU has done a good job when it comes to the pandemic, Vitale said it can’t be ignored that cases are rising at an alarming rate.
“At first we didn’t think young people were high risk,” he said. “We are now seeing that much of the spread from the virus is coming from people 18-24.”
In an email sent out to students yesterday, President Noelle Cockett also said this increase in testing is important as students head home for Thanksgiving break.
“We want you and your families to be safe over the holiday season, and getting tested is essential for this,” Cockett said in the statement.
According to the email, classes will continue as planned until Nov. 21.
All events, including student clubs, intramurals, club sports and speaker events not tied to classes will have to go virtual or be postponed until Nov. 30.
Campus facilities, such as the library, recreational facilities and dining services will remain open.
Students who have already left campus to study in their permanent home, students who have tested positive in the last 90 days and students athletes will not have to be tested weekly.
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