USU to Test Students Returning to Campus for Spring Semester

Utah State University will provide entry testing to all students on its residential campuses in order to screen for COVID-19 as spring 2021 semester begins on Jan. 19.

Rapid antigen testing will be available to students the first two weeks of the spring semester. This test involves the student using a short swab to collect a sample in the bottom inch of their nose. It is minimally invasive and not painful. Results are typically sent to the student by the end of the day. Additional information about dates and how to register for a test time was emailed to students later this week.

Testing will be conducted in the Eccles Conference Center. Students do not need to be tested if they have tested positive for COVID-19 within the last 90 days or have received both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. Available testing times are as follows:

• Jan. 19: noon to 4 p.m.
• Jan. 20 and 21: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Jan. 25, 26, 27: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Students may register for an entry test now.

In addition to testing students who are returning to campus, USU will continue to provide testing on the Logan campus for those who have symptoms or who have had exposure to COVID-19, in accordance with the Utah System of Higher Education’s COVID-19 Intensive Testing Plan, which started in January 2021. This updated plan replaces the previous requirement to test students every 14 days and ensures flexibility for colleges and universities while using a more efficient testing model to mitigate virus spread among college students. Students outside Logan should access community-based testing when they have symptoms or have had exposure.

USU will also continue to monitor wastewater for elevated levels of the virus to target testing for hot-spots on campus, as well as conduct randomized testing to monitor the student body for asymptomatic cases.

Current USU students and employees can continue to access free testing at the East Stadium Testing Site on the Logan campus through spring semester. USU’s COVID-19 diagnostic testing is provided through a collaborative effort by the USU Veterinary Diagnostic Lab, the Department of Nursing, and Student Health Services. All test results are reported to the Utah Department of Health, and the USU case investigation team traces the contacts for those who test positive for COVID-19.