UMaine System will expand on-campus testing for COVID-19
The University of Maine System is expanding its planned testing of students, faculty and staff for COVID-19 to include a second round of screening as well as ongoing monitoring.
The follow-up screening will occur a week to 10 days after students and employees arrive on the seven UMS campuses and undergo an initial testing, according to a news release Tuesday.
Roughly 12,500 individuals from outside Maine, residence hall students and other members of the academic community will be tested in each round. The testing is part of part of a three-phase surveillance strategy recommended by the UMS Scientific Advisory Board to lower the risk of disease transmission on campus from asymptomatic carriers.
Students and staff required can forgo initial phase one testing on campus by securing an COVID-19 PCR diagnostic test within 72 hours of scheduled arrival on campus, the release said.
The UMaine System will also conduct further monitoring for the disease at the start of the semester to trace and isolate cases of infection. Monitoring will include additional COVID-19 testing surveillance and symptom tracking. Wastewater testing will also be used to monitor public health conditions at the flagship University of Maine campus in Orono, the University of Maine at Fort Kent, and the University of Southern Maine.
“Our plans to bring students back to campus and limit the spread of COVID-19 will continue to evolve to reflect the best available science and safety practices,” said Chancellor Dannel Malloy. “Our Scientific Advisory Board recommended a second phase of screening and we are responding immediately with a plan to make that testing a reality.”
Most Recent
Most Recent
0 Comments