University News

WIU COVID19 Update: Weekly Testing Phase with New Hours, At Home Kits, KN95 Masks Available & More

February 1, 2022

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MACOMB/MOLINE, IL – Mandatory weekly testing resumed this week (Monday, Jan. 31) for Western Illinois University faculty, staff and students* who are unvaccinated and who are physically on WIU's campuses. Testing is held on the Macomb and Quad Cities campuses.

Weekly Testing Clinics (Beginning Monday, Jan. 31)

Testing continues to be required each week for those individuals on WIU's campuses who are unvaccinated.

WIU-Macomb, Student Recreation Center MAC Gym (south gym)

Mondays & Tuesdays, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
Wednesdays & Thursdays, 7 a.m.-4 p.m.

Macomb faculty, staff and students should schedule in advance for an appointment at bit.ly/WIUCOVID19Testing.
WIU-Quad Cities, Riverfront Hall reception desk

Mondays, Wednesdays & Thursdays, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Tuesdays, 8 a.m.-6 p.m.; and Fridays, 8 a.m.-3 p.m.

Individuals may opt out of testing if proof of vaccination is provided. Unless fully vaccinated, any individual who is physically present on either WIU campus, no matter the length time, is responsible for testing for that respective week. Vaccinated students, faculty and staff are welcome to test voluntarily at any time.

* Individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 90 days do not need to participate in gateway or weekly testing and should submit their documentation to studentcovidhelp@wiu.edu.

Surveillance Testing (beginning Monday, Jan. 31)

As vaccinated individuals can still contract COVID-19, and may not exhibit symptoms, surveillance testing will be implemented for vaccinated individuals until further notice. Individuals selected for surveillance testing will be notified via email the week prior to their required test. While walk-ins are welcome, appointments should be scheduled through the SHIELD IL portal if possible to expedite the process.

Individuals who do not follow any of the testing protocols in place, including surveillance testing, will be subject to disciplinary action and could result in the following loss of privileges including, but not limited to, class registration, time off without pay, suspension of student employment, recreation center access, assistantship employment, event/gathering access and commencement participation.

* Individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 90 days do not need to participate in gateway or weekly testing and should submit their documentation to studentcovidhelp@wiu.edu.

Free At-Home Test Kits

The U.S. government has implemented a testing program that allows every residence in the U.S the eligibility to receive four free at-home COVID-19 tests. University community members are encouraged to request their free at-home test kits at https://www.covidtests.gov/.

These tests are antigen-based kits. While the results cannot be used to meet the compliance of the University PCR-based testing protocols; the use of the at-home kits are encouraged to help with monitoring of COVID-19 symptoms.

KN95 Mask Distribution

Face coverings are required in indoor settings at both the WIU-Macomb and WIU Quad-Cities campuses (http://www.wiu.edu/policies/covid_facecovering.php).

While KN95 masks are not required on WIU's campuses at this time, the use of these specific masks are encouraged. WIU will provide KN95 masks to students, faculty and staff. To help conserve supplies of the masks, individuals should take only one per week.

Faculty, staff and students can pick up a KN95 mask, along with a WIU cloth mask, at the University Testing Center, Residence Hall Information desks and University Union Service Center on the Macomb campus, and the Riverfront Hall reception desk on the Quad Cities campus.

N95 Mask Distribution

Thanks to the University Professionals of Illinois (UPI) WIU Local 4100 for acquiring an allotment of N95 masks, faculty and staff can request an N95 through their respective dean's office.

Other staff members and students who would like an N95 should email RMEP@wiu.edu to check availability.

K95 & N95 Mask Guidance

A general guide has been created to assist with questions related to wear, storage and disposal of KN95 and N95 masks.

http://www.wiu.edu/vpas/risk_management_and_emergency_preparedness/coronavirus/campus/KN95%20or%20N95%20Mask%20Guidance.pdf

Events/Meetings

At this time, all University-sponsored events and meetings must be reviewed before being allowed to proceed. Please click here for additional protocols and guidelines.

Any University-affiliated event or gathering regardless of location MUST be registered, have on file a control plan and submit a Campus Scheduling Form with the University Scheduling and Event Services Office. Events being hosted on the WIU-Quad Cities campus should complete and submit the following form located HERE.


Proof of Vaccine Card Upload

Visit bit.ly/WIUVaxCardPortal to upload your COVID-19 proof of vaccination card. Students (undergraduate and graduate students, including graduate assistants and teaching assistants) should upload to the "Student" portal, while WIU employees should upload to the "Employee" portal.

Following your booster shot, individuals should submit updated information to the University. Members of the campus community can send an updated picture of their COVID-19 vaccination card to the following:

Students: beuhealthcenter@wiu.edu
Employees: rmep@wiu.edu

If individuals do not wish to upload the information, the vaccination card can be presented at the following locations: WIU-Macomb students: Beu Health Center; WIU-Macomb Employees: Sherman Hall 321 (Vice
President for Student Success Office); WIU-Quad Cities Students & Employees: Riverfront Hall reception desk.

Information

COVID-19-related information and protocols can be found at wiu.edu/coronavirus and click "Return to Campus."

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