UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Of the 4,664 students who were moving into University Park residence halls the first three days of move-in week (Aug. 16-18), 1,050 of them were required to take a COVID-19 test before moving in because they had not yet provided Penn State with proof that they were vaccinated for COVID-19. Out of those 1,050 COVID-19 tests, there were five confirmed positives for a positivity rate of less than half a percent.
As part of its COVID-19 mitigation plans, Penn State previously announced that starting Aug. 16, COVID-19 tests will be required for all students moving into on-campus residential housing who have not shared with the University that they have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or provided a positive COVID-19 test result from the last 90 days prior to arrival. The deadline to submit this information to avoid on-arrival testing was Aug. 9.
Those who test positive via the initial rapid test have the choice of entering on-campus isolation for 10 days or returning home for 10 days. Additionally, students who test positive are directed to take a secondary PCR test to confirm their positive result. PCR test results can take up to 48 hours, and students whose PCR test is negative can leave isolation early and resume the move-in process.
On-arrival testing also is available for those living off-campus who wish to be tested, but priority testing during move-in dates will be for residence hall students.
“We’re encouraged by the numbers we’re seeing thus far in the on-arrival testing results and I’m so pleased with the engagement and cooperation of our students in this process,” said Kelly Wolgast, director of the University’s COVID-19 Operations Control Center. “I want to thank our students and their families for their patience during on-arrival testing and remind everyone — students, faculty and staff — who hasn’t yet shared their vaccination status with us to please do so now. This data is critical to our decision making this fall and those who share that they’re fully vaccinated are exempt from further required testing in the fall.”
During the semester, all students, whether they live on or off campus — as well as faculty and staff — who remain unvaccinated or do not submit confirmation of COVID-19 vaccination to the University will be required to test for COVID-19 weekly throughout the semester or until they share with the University that they have been fully vaccinated.
Students at University Park, Commonwealth Campuses and Dickinson Law can upload their vaccination records through myUHS, and employees and World Campus students can do so through Salesforce Health Cloud. Students who are unsure of their testing status should check MyUHS or eLiving prior to arrival.
University Park’s move-in week continues through Sunday (Aug. 22). Move-in begins on the Commonwealth Campuses on Thursday (Aug. 20). Final on-arrival testing data will be published next week.