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Return-to-campus Plan: #ExplorersReturn

Testing and Identifying Positive Cases

COVID-19 Testing

The University’s COVID-19 testing strategy, outlined below, represents a critically important component of our spring semester Return to Campus planning. La Salle’s testing protocol, which will continue to be refined as we draw closer to our return, can be framed in three main approaches:

Entry testing

Upon returning to campus in January, every student (undergraduate, graduate, and evening), employee, and Christian Brother who plans to live, learn and/or work on campus will be required to take a COVID-19 entry test. Those students and employees who will be fully remote this spring will not require an entry test. Testing will be provided by the University, at no cost to you, at the start of the semester and will take place on campus. Full testing of our population may be implemented, if deemed necessary, at other points in the semester. Further details and instructions will be provided as we get closer to the start of the spring semester.

Surveillance testing

The University will administer surveillance testing of asymptomatic individuals throughout the semester. Each week, a portion of our on-campus community will be selected for testing. Any member of our community who is living, learning, and/or working on campus is eligible for selection for surveillance testing. This branch of testing will have additional protocols for our student-athletes, who are training and competing in the spring.

Symptomatic testing and exposure testing

Residential and off-campus students who are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms should complete the Disclosure Form and contact Student Health for an initial evaluation. Once an evaluation is completed, symptomatic COVID-19 testing may be administered. Given the similarity of symptoms, symptomatic students may also be tested for the flu. Similarly, residential and off-campus students who have been informed by University contact tracing representatives that they have been exposed to an individual who has tested positive for COVID-19 should monitor their symptoms and contact Student Health in the event they begin to experience any COVID-19-like symptoms. Commuter students and employees who either are symptomatic or have been exposed to an individual who has tested positive should also complete the Disclosure Form, not report to campus and will be directed to access testing through their personal health care provider.

Several testing locations are located within a 5-mile radius of campus. Philadelphia Department of Public Health sites provide testing for the uninsured. Transportation to the off-campus sites is the responsibility of the individual being tested.

  • Most health insurance carriers will cover the cost of the test. Consult with yours for more information.

Self-reporting: What to do if positive, symptomatic, or have been exposed

Students and employees who will be on campus this semester will be required to contact the university if they:

  • test positive for COVID-19; or,
  • have had close contact (within six feet for more than 15 minutes over a 24-hour period) with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19; or,
  • are experiencing symptoms related to COVID-19.

In these cases, students and employees are asked to complete the COVID-19 Disclosure Form, consult with their personal health care providers, and stay at home until you have met the criteria to return.

As always, we encourage faculty, students, and staff to continue to work closely with their personal health care providers when addressing their own unique and personal health care needs and concerns.

Faculty/staff
  • An employee must provide notification immediately by completing the COVID-19 Disclosure Form. However, a return to work clearance will be requested from the employee’s health care provider. If you have difficulty reaching your personal physician, you may be able to get assistance through Doctor on Demand, at 1-800-997-6196.
  • HR will notify the employee’s supervisor without disclosing medical information.
  • Any employee health information reported to HR will be shared only with those who need to know to assist with contact tracing requirements and/or accommodation requests.
Students
  • Students must complete the the COVID-19 Disclosure Form
  • Students will be contacted by a member of the Contact Tracing team and be interviewed following public health contact tracing guidelines to determine possible community transmission.
  • Student health information reported pursuant to the policy will be shared only with those who need to assist with contact tracing.
  • To protect privacy, student identifying information will not be disclosed in the contact tracing and notification process to the people who have been exposed. Health information reported to the University will be shared only with those who need to know to assist with contact tracing requirements and/or accommodation requests.
  • As with any health issue, students are responsible for notifying their faculty to make arrangements to continue their academic coursework.
Faculty/staff second-hand reporting
  • If a student self-reports COVID-19-related exposure, symptoms, or diagnosis to a faculty or staff member, that information can be submitted through the COVID-19 Disclosure Form and should be kept confidential beyond that.
  • If an employee self-reports COVID-19-related exposure, symptoms, or diagnosis to a supervisor, that information can be submitted through the COVID-19 Disclosure Form and should be kept confidential beyond that. As with any health issues, faculty and staff should treat any notification from a student or employee as confidential. This information should not be shared with any other faculty, staff, or students.
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