NC State University requires COVID testing for students returning to campus
N.C. State University students and employees who are not vaccinated against COVID-19 must get tested when returning to campus this spring as COVID-19 cases have surged with the spread of the highly infectious omicron variant.
All students living in campus dorms and apartments or in Greek Village must also get tested, regardless of vaccination or booster status, the university announced Monday.
Students, faculty and staff must provide a negative PCR test or two negative antigen tests taken within 72 hours before or after returning to campus. They can upload a screenshot, pdf file or photo of negative test results in the HealthyPack Portal if getting tested off campus.
The university will also continue to enforce COVID-19 safety measures, including face masks and weekly testing for those who are unvaccinated, for at least the first few weeks of the spring semester. Classes start on Jan. 10.
NCSU strongly recommends getting vaccinated or a booster shot before returning to campus, and vaccination appointments are available on campus for students, faculty, staff, alumni and their immediate families.
Other local universities are also taking precautions heading into the spring semester.
UNC-Chapel Hill will require prior-to-arrival testing of all unvaccinated students and for all students living in residence halls regardless of vaccination status. UNC-CH also recommends COVID-19 testing for all undergraduate and graduate students living in the Chapel Hill and Carrboro community. The university has consistently urged the campus community to get the COVID-19 vaccines and boosters, which are available on campus.
With classes starting at the beginning of January, UNC leaders have said they’ll notify the campus by Jan. 3 about whether plans for the spring semester will change due to the resurgence of COVID-19.
Duke University delayed in-person instruction and students will take online classes until the week of Jan. 10. The university in Durham is also requiring all students and employees to get a COVID-19 booster shot before returning from the holiday break.
This story was originally published December 27, 2021 at 10:55 AM.
