More flexible on-campus testing schedules
August 27, 2020 4:01 PM

Faculty, Staff and Students,

We are nearing the end of our first week of on-campus COVID-19 saliva testing, and we have received feedback about the process and ways it could be improved. Please know that we are listening to your feedback, and we appreciate your patience and understanding as we navigate a complicated process that has never been done.

Based on your feedback, we are implementing the following changes to the current process:

• For everyone who must participate in the on-campus testing program, you must be tested and receive negative results at least every four days.
• You will be in compliance and have Access Granted status for building entry from the time you receive your negative test results until 11:59 on the fourth day after you take the test.
  • For example, if you test Monday, you will receive Access Granted status (in both the Safer Illinois app and the Boarding Pass options) from the time you receive a negative result until 11:59 p.m. on Friday of the same week.
• We are continuing to encourage everyone to use these two-day testing schedules to make it an easy part of a weekly routine:
  • Monday and Thursday
  • Tuesday and Friday
  • Wednesday and Saturday
  • Wednesday and Sunday
• If you are a student, we highly encourage you to choose one of the weekend schedules (Wednesday and Saturday or Wednesday and Sunday) to take advantage of shorter lines when the university is less populated. We are increasing capacity at testing sites for the weekends for your convenience.
• We are stopping all reminder emails immediately. The intention was to give more guidance, but we understand they have unintentionally led to more confusion.
• If you already have a two-day testing schedule that works for you, please continue to use it.
• If you have requested a different testing schedule than the one you originally received, please feel free to begin using it now.
• If you have not been assigned a testing schedule, please pick one of the two-day testing schedules above that works for you.
• Please understand that test results may require up to 48 hours.
• One important note about Labor Day: You will need to test on Thursday, Friday, Saturday or Sunday to ensure compliance when regular operations resume Tuesday. Some testing sites will be open on Labor Day as well.

We are also working on a tool to check which times and locations at each testing location are least busy, so you can make the best decision about where and when to test. We will provide more information just as soon as we are able.

Please continue to check the On-Campus Testing COVID-19 Testing page on the university’s COVID-19 website as we continue to add to the FAQ section. Thank you for your diligence and continued patience as we navigate this together. If you have additional questions about this process or testing schedules, please email covid-19@illinois.edu. If you have questions about testing results or quarantine or isolation, please email covidwellness@illinois.edu.

Sincerely,

Mike DeLorenzo
Senior Associate Chancellor for Administration and Operations
Chair, COVID-19 Executive Steering Committee on Return to On-Campus Operations

Matthew Tomaszewski
Executive Associate Provost for Capital Planning
Vice Chair, COVID-19 Executive Steering Committee on Return to On-Campus Operations