UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – With several students who live in Beaver Hill apartments in State College recently testing positive for COVID-19, Penn State is advising all residents of Beaver Hill to get tested for COVID-19 on Wednesday (March 24) or Thursday (March 25) at the walk-up testing site at Pegula Ice Arena.
As part of the University’s multilayered COVID-19 testing strategy, when the positivity rate of University tests reaches approximately 2% among those living in a particular on- or off-campus congregate housing facility, Penn State contacts all residents of the facility to encourage testing. This allows the University to proactively rule out anyone who isn’t positive, identify and provide support to those who are positive and initiate the contact tracing process. In this case, Penn State is working with the building’s management to reach the residents of Beaver Hill.
Walk-up testing for asymptomatic students is available at Pegula and the Hintz Family Alumni Center from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday. University Park students who are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 should continue to schedule testing appointments with University Health Services (UHS) via myUHS.
The walk-up testing sites utilize rapid tests, with results provided to students on site. Students whose rapid test indicates a positive result will immediately take a secondary PCR test to confirm the positive result and be referred to isolation. The University’s contact tracing process will also commence at this time. Students who must isolate – whether on or off campus – will have support from the University to help them continue their studies uninterrupted, maintain their physical and mental health and stay connected to others.
Students who receive a negative result on their secondary PCR test will receive information from the University’s contact tracing team about leaving isolation. Those who receive a positive result on the secondary PCR test will complete their 10-day isolation period. More information about the support and resources provided to students in quarantine and isolation is available online at virusinfo.psu.edu.
More information on University COVID-19 testing is available online at virusinfo.psu.edu.