Hofstra releases testing protocols as students return to campus
Photo courtesy of WebMD
As Hofstra plans to reopen its campus for the Fall 2020 semester, it has set forth mandatory COVID-19 testing guidelines, in liaison with Northwell Health, for all residential students.
“Northwell Health is working closely with Hofstra, their COVID leadership team and student health services to help implement the best and safest reopening procedures for the fall semester," said Dr. David Battinelli, the vice dean of the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine. "Additionally, we will be processing the COVID-19 diagnostic tests administered in the student health center at Northwell Health Labs."
Tests will be free for students as it will be covered by their insurance plans, according to the university.
"Hofstra will only be offering the nasal swab-type test,” said Karla Schuster, assistant vice president of University Relations. “We will offer both the anterior nasal swab PCR test and the nasal pharyngeal swab PCR test depending on the circumstances.”
Battinelli emphasized Hofstra’s plan to reopen does not ensure that campus will be “fully safe” for students return to in-person instruction "We need to follow proper procedures like mandatory mask-wearing, hand washing and social distancing to limit any infections," he said. "A message for students is do not put yourself in any unnecessary harm and keep yourself protected."
Northwell Health will also be implementing a surveillance program designed to “identify and isolate” students who test positive before they are able to spread the infection to others. Meanwhile, move-in dates for residential students will be scheduled earlier than usual, beginning Saturday, Aug. 15, to permit physical distancing.
"For example, for residential and travel advisory students who must be tested upon first arrival to campus, we will use the lower nose test if they answer 'no' to all questions on a medical screening survey and the upper nose test for those who answer 'yes' to any of the questions," Schuster said.
Schuster also noted that Hofstra will be accepting the results of any FDA-approved test, calling it the "pre-test.” All students are required to undergo a pre-test no more than 14 days before their first arrival on campus if possible. However, the pre-test does not prohibit residential, or travel advisory, students from receiving the mandatory COVID test during check-in on their assigned move-in date.
Test results will be aggregated in the Medicat system, a software platform for registering and tracking student health data, according to an email from the Student Health and Counseling Center (SHACC) sent to students on Friday, July 31. The software will be accessible via the Hofstra student portal and will also be used to track immunization records and meningitis responses from students.
In addition to testing upon arrival, the email noted that "any student on campus, whether residential or commuter, may be required to undergo COVID-19 testing at any point in accordance with university and public health policies and procedures."
