UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Of the approximately 14,000 students who moved into University Park residence halls this past week, 2,639 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 required to test, there were 18 confirmed positives for a positivity rate of about 0.7%.
As of today (Aug. 23), approximately 83% of students living on campus at University Park have provided proof of vaccination to the University.
As part of its COVID-19 mitigation plans, Penn State previously announced that COVID-19 tests were 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.
Those who tested positive via the initial rapid test had the choice of entering on-campus isolation for 10 days or returning home for 10 days. Additionally, students who tested positive were directed to take a secondary PCR test to confirm their positive result, which can take up to 48 hours.
Some results from PCR tests performed at Commonwealth Campuses are still pending, so data on Commonwealth Campus on-arrival testing is forthcoming.
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.