Dear students,
As outlined in our August 31 announcement regarding COVID-19 testing, after the initial round of testing at the start of the semester, all undergraduate students living in the St. Louis region will be required to complete a university-provided COVID-19 test every two weeks for the duration of the fall semester. This surveillance testing will begin on September 28.
Please read this email carefully. It includes details about when you will need to complete testing, how to register for an appointment, the consequences of not completing a test, exemptions, and other important topics.
As a reminder, this surveillance testing is not for students experiencing symptoms. If you have or develop COVID-19-related symptoms, contact Habif Health and Wellness Center immediately (314-935-6666). The university is providing testing for all WashU students who develop COVID-19-related symptoms at any time during the fall semester upon referral from Habif.
Testing schedule
To ensure that students complete a surveillance test every other week, during each two-week cycle, students with last names that begin with A – Lee will test during the first week and students with last names that begin with Lef – Z will test during the second week.
| Last names that begin with A – Lee | Last names that begin with Lef – Z |
| September 28 – October 2 | October 5 – 9 |
| October 12 – 16 | October 19 – 23 |
| October 26 – 30 | November 2 – 6 |
| November 9 – 13 | November 16 – 20 |
| November 23 – 25 | November 30 – December 4 |
| December 7 – 11 | December 14 – 18 |
If you do not complete the surveillance test during your assigned week
Students in Residential Life housing who do not complete the required university test during their assigned week will have their university housing privileges terminated and their campus access turned off. Students not in Residential Life housing who do not complete the university test during their assigned week will have their ID card swipe access to buildings on the Danforth Campus turned off at the end of that week. Students who fail to complete the university test on a regular basis may be subject to additional consequences.
Registering for an appointment
Students must register for an appointment each week that they are required to be tested. To register for an appointment, visit recstore.wustl.edu, log in with your WUSTL key, select COVID-19 Surveillance Testing Scheduling, and select the appropriate option based on your last name. You may register for all of your appointments for the semester at once.
Appointments are available from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays – Thursdays and from 8 a.m. to noon on Fridays.
Exemptions
Students are exempt from surveillance testing if they are studying remotely and not living in the St. Louis region. Students who have previously tested positive, and those who live in the St. Louis region but will not be coming to campus, may be exempt from the mandatory surveillance testing. More information about requesting an exemption under either of these conditions is available on the university’s COVID-19 website.
If you received an exemption for the entry testing (conducted before September 25), you do not need to request another exemption for the every two weeks surveillance testing. If you previously received an exemption but now need or would like to participate in the every two weeks surveillance testing, contact covidquestions@wustl.edu.
Testing logistics
- This ongoing testing will be conducted at the surveillance testing facility on the Danforth Campus. This facility will be located on Mudd Field outside Simon Hall and the Danforth University Center.
- Bring a form of identification and smartphone/tablet/laptop to check in at the site.
- This is a saliva test. Do not eat or drink ANYTHING for 30 minutes prior to your test time. This includes, but is not limited to, tooth brushing, mouth washing, gum chewing, drinking water, and tobacco use before your testing. Not following preparation guidelines will result in a delay of your testing.
- You must complete the university’s self-screen each day you will be on campus, including any day you are going to the surveillance testing facility.
- The processing time for tests is approximately 24-36 hours.
- Negative results will be emailed directly to your university email account. Positive results will be communicated directly to Habif medical staff, who will then contact you by phone to provide appropriate medical and healthcare support, and to begin contact tracing protocols.
- The testing center was designed and will be operated with the health and safety of the university community in mind. This includes consultation with expert advisors from the School of Medicine’s Division of Infectious Diseases. As noted above, this testing is not for symptomatic students. Additionally, masks will be required (except when producing a saliva sample) and the site is designed to allow for physical distancing at all times except very brief interactions with testing staff.
- Students who test positive will be offered the opportunity to move to isolation housing on campus to recover away from other students. There will be no cost for this isolation housing or the meals provided when a student is in isolation housing. Students who test positive who live off campus with roommates and are living in a situation where they cannot safely isolate from others will be required to move to isolation housing.
If you have any questions, please send them to covidquestions@wustl.edu.
Thank you for your continued commitment to the university’s public health and safety requirements. We are #WashUTogether!
Sincerely,
Robert M. Wild
Interim Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs