This is an update from Marshall University regarding its COVID-19 sentinel surveillance testing program.
At the direction of the State of West Virginia and the Higher Education Policy Commission, all four-year institutions are now required to test 10% of their on-campus population weekly.
Testing is no longer optional. Students who do not comply with the testing request may be subject to student conduct action. Employees may also face disciplinary action for non-compliance.
Separate arrangements will be made for ongoing testing of students and employees at the university’s South Charleston and Mid-Ohio Valley Center locations.
Students and employees who are not on campus this semester for any classes, services or work will not be required to be tested.
As a reminder, the goal of sentinel surveillance testing is to help detect potentially infected individuals—even those who may not be experiencing symptoms—and to keep them from infecting others.
It is very important that you be tested if you have been selected. The more people who are tested, the better opportunity there is to stop outbreaks of COVID-19 on our campus.
Testing Information:
- Wear a mask to your test.
- Bring your Marshall ID, if applicable.
- The testing procedure should take less than five minutes to complete.
- Test results should be received in 24-48 hours.
- There is no cost to you for the test.
- Anyone with a positive test result will be contacted immediately and provided with directions for medical care and to initiate contact tracing protocols.
- Testing information is regulated by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and will be kept confidential.
- Employees will be provided release time to be tested during work hours and are not required to use meal or break periods.
Summary testing data, including the number of tests done and the number of positives, will be posted on the university’s coronavirus website. The data will be updated weekly, usually on Mondays.
If you have questions about the sentinel surveillance testing, please e-mail COVID19@marshall.edu.
Thank you in advance for your cooperation and assistance in helping keep the Marshall University community safe.