By Gary Johnson, UW-EC University Relations Specialist
UW-Eau Claire is expanding its free antigen testing for COVID-19 to include students living off campus who have internships or other university-related experiences that take them into the community.
By expanding its rapid testing program, UW-EC can identify asymptomatic students who interact with community members through those campus-related activities and programs, in an effort to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus, according to Jodi Thesing-Ritter, UW-EC’s executive director of equity, diversity and inclusion. Up to 3,000 off-campus students could be tested under the expanded program, she said.
“Our goal is to do our very best to prevent community spread,” Thesing-Ritter said.
In September, the university started antigen testing for 3,900 or so students who live in the 11 on-campus residence halls and three university-sponsored housing facilities off campus. The goal is to have residence hall students tested every two weeks.
As of Friday (Oct. 23) more than 9,500 student tests had been processed at the McPhee Physical Education Center testing site, with a positivity rate of less than 4%. No students have been hospitalized as a result of contracting the coronavirus,
‘Blugold Flight Plan’ being followed
Chancellor James Schmidt said the campus community has done a tremendous job of following the Blugold Flight Plan, including protocols that require wearing masks, physical distancing and washing hands appropriately.
“Thanks to faculty, staff and students who are following the many safeguards we’ve put in place, we are able to safely continue our in-person classes,” Schmidt said.
“Many Blugolds also pursue internships and other community-related activities that take them into the Eau Claire community. Expanding our free antigen testing to include these students will help to keep the community safe during these unprecedented times,” he added.
The expanded testing will allow the university to test up to 600 students per day, a significant increase from the 350 students who can currently be tested daily. University staff reassigned to the testing site to help with such duties as paperwork have made the process run so smoothly that students can be done as quickly as seven minutes after entering the building.
Results available within 30 minutes
Five testing machines allow antigen results to be available within 30 minutes. Students who test positive are directed to Student Health Service for a more accurate polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test.
UW-EC students realize the importance of testing for COVID-19, according to assistant football coach Matt Tomsho.
Nom Yang, a freshman kinesiology major from La Crosse, lives in an on-campus residence hall and has had two negative antigen tests at the center, where he also works. Yang said the antigen tests aren’t intrusive and are necessary so students can continue in-person classes.
“We have to stay safe if we want to stay on campus,” he said.
“Everyone wants to stay open and students understand they need to get tested,” Tomsho said.
Note: The home page photo was furnished by UW-Eau Claire.
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