As mentioned earlier this week, coronavirus mass testing will be available for students, faculty and staff at Emporia State University effective immediately.
Director of Marketing and Media Relations Gwen Larson tells KVOE News ESU secured funding through the federal CARES Act that was later passed through the state’s SPARK Taskforce to the university. Also, Clinical Reference Laboratory of Lenexa recently received FDA approval for its saliva tests.
Larson says ESU emailed 4,000 campus community members this week with details on how to get the tests, use them and submit them for study. She says there will be enough tests for all on campus to get tested free of charge. Tests have already been ordered, and in at least one case was received in under 24 hours. The time for results on submitted tests and the amount of money earmarked for this project are not immediately known.
Larson says it’s important for students, faculty and staff to get tested soon — well before the start of the fall semester Aug. 17, if possible — so they can take the steps they need to like quarantine if they are exposed or isolation if they are indeed sick. If isolation is needed, students are told to keep their current living arrangements and reach out to Academic Affairs to start classes remotely while faculty and staff are told to notify their supervisors.
This is the latest step ESU has taken to prepare for the fall semester with the coronavirus pandemic still firmly in place. Emporia State is still planning for traditional in-person education when the semester starts in two weeks, with the current plan to have normal operations through Nov. 20 before Thanksgiving break — followed by remote classes and finals Nov. 30-Dec. 4. Students, faculty, staff and visitors will have to wear masks in campus buildings. Adjustments are also being made for social distancing in residence halls and cafeteria spaces.
