This message was sent to Puget Sound students.

Welcome back to campus!

We are looking forward to the semester and providing the following spring semester COVID-19 testing plans to support a healthy campus community.

All students are required to participate in saliva PCR testing twice a week during the spring semester. Students who are assigned to live in double rooms on campus will be tested as they check in beginning Jan. 15 and continuing through Jan. 18. Directions for testing will be given at check-in. Regardless of when you arrive or when you begin testing, all students should plan to quarantine for at least 7 days and until they have received two negative COVID-19 tests.

Testing for off-campus students and residential students who do not reside in doubles will begin on Jan. 19. Self-administered testing will take place in the testing pavilion located on the Event Lawn, between Thomas Hall and Warner Gym.

You are required to test twice weekly. Please space out your testing days and do not test on consecutive days. For example, schedule your tests on Monday and Wednesday, not Monday and Tuesday. You can schedule your testing any time Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m., however we recommend avoiding the noon hour when it is expected to be more crowded. We also anticipate that mornings will be less congested. The scheduling platform will be live on Jan. 16 by 9 a.m. and will be available at pugetsound.edu/scheduletest.

Do not eat, drink, chew gum, or brush your teeth at least 30 minutes or use mouthwash for at least two hours prior to providing your sample. When giving your salvia sample, please fill the tube at least half way for accurate processing. Detailed instructions are noted at the end of this document.  

Testing results will be available within 24-48 hours of the lab receiving your test sample. Samples will be sent to the labs via overnight mail and should arrive the day after you provide your sample as long as it is before 3 p.m. If your sample is collected after 3 p.m., it will be sent the following day. You can look up your results at pugetsound.edu/testresults. You will need to type in your Puget Sound ID number including any zeros at the start of the number to get results. 

The campus pooled saliva testing program is for asymptomatic individuals, i.e., those who do not have any symptoms of COVID-19. Please do not come to the testing pavilion if you are ill. Instead, seek guidance from Counseling, Health & Wellness Services (CHWS) by calling 253.879.1555 so that alternative testing provisions can be made. 

If, at any time, you test positive for COVID-19, do not participate in pooled testing until 90 days after your positive test. Please provide documentation regarding your diagnosis to CHWS by calling 253.879.1555 or emailing chws@pugetsound.edu. If you develop COVID-19-related symptoms during this 90 day period, please reach out to CHWS for assistance. This is following CDC guidelines and you may request additional guidance from your medical if needed.

See instructions to collect sample (link updated Jan. 19).

In addition to testing, please continue to follow all health and safety guidelines and fill out your daily COVID Health Screening before engaging in activities on campus. We look forward to seeing you at the testing pavilion and doing everything we can to support your health and wellbeing this spring.

Sincerely,

Kelly K. Brown, Ph.D. | Director
Counseling, Health, and Wellness Serices