The University of Nebraska-Lincoln announces stricter COVID-19 testing protocols for students and staff returning for the spring semester.
Details released by Chancellor Ronnie Green include four main points.
- Saliva-based diagnostic testing with a 24-hour turnaround time
- “Standing up this capability is a major undertaking, and we need immediate help staffing it. We are looking for members of our campus community who would be able to temporarily redeploy to help staff the testing sites, diagnostic center and conduct contract tracing,” Green said. “These temporary re-assignments range from one-month to more than four months, depending on the role and availability of the individual. If you are interested and have capacity to redeploy on a temporary basis next spring, please visit this website to learn more about the available roles and to apply.”
- Mandatory Testing
- All UNL students residing in Lancaster County during the Spring semester will be required to be tested every two weeks. Any students residing outside Lancaster County who physically come to campus in the Spring semester will also be required to be tested every two weeks. All students will be required to be tested prior to moving into any campus housing or prior to classes commencing on January 25, 2021.
Faculty and staff who are regularly on campus will also be required to be tested every two weeks. Faculty and staff who are primarily working remotely and come to campus infrequently will be required to be tested within the two weeks prior to visiting campus, preferably 2-3 days in advance.
- All UNL students residing in Lancaster County during the Spring semester will be required to be tested every two weeks. Any students residing outside Lancaster County who physically come to campus in the Spring semester will also be required to be tested every two weeks. All students will be required to be tested prior to moving into any campus housing or prior to classes commencing on January 25, 2021.
- Use of a COVID-19 App
- “We are also working with our Big Ten colleagues at the University of Illinois-UC for a unique campus app that will incorporate the results of the saliva tests to provide members of the campus community with a color-coded status based on negative or positive test results,” Green says.
- A “go” status will be required to enter any UNL buildings on City, East or Nebraska Innovation Campuses. Alternatives for demonstrating a negative test and gaining access to campus buildings will be made available for any students, faculty or staff who do not own a smartphone. Information about the new app and how to download will be provided in early January.
- Enhanced Spring 2021 Cornhusker Commitment
- All students will be required to sign an affirmative agreement in MyRed agreeing to adhere to these expanded health and safety measures.
- “Each student will need to commit to being tested as needed and to practicing the necessary safety measures of wearing masks indoors or when social distancing is not possible outdoors, avoiding large crowds and social gatherings, hand washing, and other proper hygiene,” Green says. “Students will acknowledge that a failure to adhere to these safety precautions could jeopardize their ability to be on campus.”
More information on the new safety measures being taken for our Spring 2021 semester is available on our UNL COVID-19 website.