UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — During the month of October, Penn State Commonwealth Campuses will be offering opt-in, asymptomatic COVID-19 testing for faculty and staff who are working on campus and wish to be tested.
Testing will be available only to employees who are listed in the University’s Return to Work database. Eligible employees can request up to two voluntary tests for themselves during the month of October. Depending on need and what is learned during this period, the University is exploring continuing on-demand testing beyond October. This testing is free for employees.
Participation in this testing is voluntary and does not replace mandatory surveillance testing. Commonwealth Campus employees in the Return to Work database will receive an email with the details on how to request this testing.
Test kits will be mailed to the employee’s home address, and they will participate in a virtual appointment with Vault Health to complete the process. Employees requesting tests through this voluntary process are expected to complete the test within the month of October.
Employees who are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms should stay home and call their health care provider to arrange for a symptomatic test, as they will not be eligible to participate in the voluntary testing process.
This program will begin immediately. Employees who are interested in participating should take the necessary steps to initiate the testing process on or before Friday, Oct. 16, to allow for mailing time so that the testing process in completed prior to the end of the month.
Commonwealth Campus students who are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or are concerned about possible virus exposure should seek testing by contacting their on-campus health center or calling the University’s 24/7 advice nurse line at 814-863-4463.
For more information about the University’s COVID-19 testing and contact tracing processes, visit https://virusinfo.psu.edu.