University News

COVID Testing Underway at WIU – Time Change for WIU-Macomb Faculty/Staff/Off Campus Student Test Distribution; Self-Checker Reminder

August 25, 2020

Share Printer friendly version

*NOTE TIME CHANGE FOR MACOMB CAMPUS TEST DISTRIBUTION

For protocols, policies and more information, visit wiu.edu/coronavirus.

MACOMB, IL -- Western Illinois University began distributing free COVID-19 test kits (saliva test) this weekend to students living on campus, and will continue to distribute throughout this week on the Macomb and Quad Cities campuses. While the tests are not mandatory, they are highly encouraged in the continued effort to keep members of the University community safe.

• Off campus/commuter students, faculty and staff on the Macomb campus will receive test kits beginning at 9 a.m. tomorrow (Tuesday, Aug. 25) in the Tanner Hall circle drive. Due to the heat, test kit distributions will be held from 9 a.m.-noon through Thursday, Aug. 27. For individuals who do not have vehicles, there is a Go West bus stop near Q-Lot/Western Hall. Visit wiu.edu/gowest for bus routes and times.

Completed test kits must be returned to the University Union meter lot on the north side of the University Union between 8 a.m.-noon through Friday, Aug. 28.

• Quad Cities students, faculty and staff will receive test kits at the Riverfront Hall east entrance from 1-4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 25. The test kits will also be distributed from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday, Aug. 26-27.

Completed test kits must be returned to Riverfront Hall east entrance between 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday, Aug. 26-27 and from 8:30 a.m.-noon Friday, Aug. 28.

THE SPECIMEN MUST BE RETURNED THE SAME DAY IT IS COLLECTED. For example, individuals who complete their saliva test on Wednesday morning must return the completed test kit to the collection site by noon the same day.

The completed saliva collection tests will be overnighted to a lab in Kansas, with results anticipated within 24 hours.

Individuals who test positive will be immediately notified and must isolate for 14 days. WIU-Macomb has facilities set up to ensure comfortable and safe accommodations for those who must isolate. Faculty, staff and commuter students on both campuses who test positive must isolate at home for 14 days.

Test kit distribution and collection, which will be conducted by Beu Health Center staff and trained volunteers, will continue to take place weekly for a random sampling of the WIU population throughout the fall semester.

---

Self-Check

Members of the WIU community are REQUIRED to answer COVID-related questions and take their temperature through an online self-checker before coming to campus and/or leaving their residence hall each day. This process has replaced the temperature taking stations in Q-Lot, which are no longer in operation.

Students residing in the residence halls who do not have a thermometer can have their temperature taken at their respective hall information desk to satisfy this requirement of the form.

Completion of the self-checker is required each day (including weekends) that an individual will be on campus property. If an individual is taking classes online, working from home, or does not plan on physically being on any campus property, they do not need to complete the assessment. In support of medical records requirements, medical data will not be stored.

Compliance will be monitored and individuals failing to complete the self-evaluation will be notified each day.

All registered students, faculty and staff are active in the database monitoring this process. Due to not knowing whether or not an individual is planning to be on campus, individuals working from home and/or taking classes online will still get notification reminders of the self-check as a precautionary measure. If an individual does not plan on physically being on campus, they do not need to submit an assessment and can ignore the self-check reminder each day.

Individuals who do not have access to complete the self-checker before arriving on the Macomb campus can do so at a kiosk station located at the Office of Public Safety (OPS Mowbray Hall). Individuals who do not have access to complete the self-checker before arriving on the Moline campus can do so at a kiosk station located at the entrance of Riverfront Hall.

Visitors/guests/vendors will be required to fill out the self-checker before coming to campus. Delivery personnel (i.e. mail, parcel, food delivery) will not be subject to the self-check process.

If information is received indicating that a student may have been exposed or has symptoms related to COVID-19, they will be contacted by a member of the Beu Health Center or Student Development and Success Center for follow-up and consultation. Faculty and staff will be directed to their health care provider for further guidance.



Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing