University of Idaho students returning to Moscow for the spring semester must clear COVID-19 testing protocols to attend classes in person, which begin Jan. 13.
Students are encouraged to get tested early because results must be received prior to attending class in person, according to an email from UI President Scott Green. Students who have already received positive results through university testing or previously submitted documentation do not need to be retested.
“We expect that COVID-19 will again challenge our campus this semester and keeping the university open with live class instruction will continue to be determined by our community’s ability to manage our positive cases,” Green stated. “Let’s stay mindful and not let COVID-19 beat us.”
Testing will be available to students and faculty Jan. 6-8 and Jan. 11-13 at the Student Recreation Center and 800 additional slots are available Jan. 10 for students living in residence halls or campus apartments. Register for an appointment here.
Students who test positive and live on campus in Greek chapters or residence halls will again be cared for in Targhee Hall, the email stated. Those identified by Idaho Public Health as a close contact of a positive case will also be expected to quarantine. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reduced the suggested quarantine timeframe to 10 days, down from 14 days.
Beginning Jan. 13, instructors will receive a list of students ineligible to attend class in person, which will include those who have not completed their testing requirement.
“Instructors are encouraged to accommodate students as much as possible but are not required to provide long-term COVID-19-related instructional accommodations outside of the assigned course format,” Green stated. “Students are encouraged to attend in-person instruction when feasible to maximize student learning and engagement.”
Idaho is currently in Phase 2 of Gov. Brad Little’s reopening plan, which prohibits gatherings of more than 10 people. Classrooms, however, are exempted. Green noted in the email that no cases were traced back to the classroom in the fall 2020 semester.
While the university is prepared to coordinate free COVID-19 vaccinations with Gritman Medical Center, it will be months before the vaccine is available to general public. The Idaho Dept. of Health and Welfare published a timeline for when residents will be able to get the COVID-19 vaccine, with availability ranging from now until May 2021.
Specific questions about UI testing requirements are directed to [email protected].
Angela Palermo can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @apalermotweets.