ISU students living on campus must be tested for COVID-19 when they return after the holidays

Posted on December 7, 2020
Illinois State University is requiring all ISU students to get tested for COVID-19 once they return to campus. (Photo courtesy: WJBC/File)

By Heart of Illinois ABC

NORMAL – COVID-19 testing is required of all Illinois State University students living on campus when they return after the holidays to start the spring semester.

The university announced in its weekly coronavirus update that the goal of mandatory entry testing is to “provide information necessary to control outbreaks and inform public health action.”

Classes start January 11. University Housing Services will provide more information before students move back into on-campus housing.

In the weekly update, university staff provided the following guidance for students about on-campus testing.

  • On-campus COVID-19 testing is free to Illinois State students.  Students must bring their Redbird ID to on-campus testing sites in order to be tested.  On-campus COVID-19 testing is not available to faculty and staff at this time.
  • There is not a medical reason to have a COVID-19 test more than twice per week and only after results from the most recent test are received unless you develop COVID-19 symptoms since the last test.
  • Only one test per student per day will be processed by Reditus, the contract lab being used by Illinois State University and the Interstate Center.
  • On-campus testing centers and the Interstate Center use the same method of COVID-19 testing, which is a PCR test. This type of test is very reliable.  Having multiple tests over a short period (within the same day) will produce the same results and is a waste of valuable supplies.
  • Students who develop symptoms after testing should call Student Health Services at 309-438-7676 to determine the best course of action until test results are received.
  • On-campus test results are received on average in 3-5 days.  Students will receive results in the Secure Student Health Services portal.
  • If you test positive, regardless of where you test, you will be required to isolate for a period of 10 days or length of time determined by the McLean County Health Department or health professional. If you are deemed a close contact, you will be required to quarantine for 14 days.  More information about quarantine and isolation requirements can be found by reading Coronavirus FAQ’s.

More information is available on ISU’s  Coronavirus Website.

Heart of Illinois ABC can be reached at [email protected]. 

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