Emporia State Launches Mass Testing of Campus Community for COVID-19

by Gwendolynne Larson

Emporia, KS (08/05/2020) — Emporia State University has partnered with a Lenexa laboratory to provide testing for COVID-19 to all faculty, staff and students expected on the Emporia campus for fall 2020. Funding came from the Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas (SPARK) Taskforce, which is in charge of distribution of CARES Act funding.

"Our goal with this tool of mass testing is to identify any positive cases before people arrive on campus," said ESU President Allison D. Garrett. "This allows anyone who tests positive to isolate where they are, working or studying remotely, until they are cleared by public health to be on campus."

Emporia State contracted with Clinical Reference Laboratory, or CRL, to provide its CRL Rapid ResponseTM saliva-based tests. All students, faculty and staff expected on the Emporia campus for fall 2020 received an email with directions to request a kit from CRL. SPARK funding pays for the tests, which are provided free to the students, faculty and staff who request them.

All test results are sent back directly to the individual who submitted the test. Positive results also are reported to public health in the county where the individual lives. No identifiable test results are shared with Emporia State.

Students who test positive are asked to isolate where they are and contact Academic Affairs to make arrangements to begin classes remotely. Faculty and staff are asked to notify their supervisors.

Emporia State University

Emporia State Launches Mass Testing of Campus Community for COVID-19

Emporia State University

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