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- Sept. 8, 2020 | Surveillance and Wastewater Testing Provide Data...
- Title:
- Sept. 8, 2020 | Surveillance and Wastewater Testing Provide Data
- Date:
- 2020-09-08
- Category:
- Presidential Memos
- Harvested from:
- https://perma.cc/H79Z-9K2U
- Type:
- text
- Digital Format:
- text/html
- Reference Link:
- https://www.lib.uidaho.edu/digital/fridayletter/letters/president_memo_2020-09-08.html
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Sept. 8, 2020 | Surveillance and Wastewater Testing Provide Data
TO: University of Idaho Moscow-Based Faculty and Staff
FROM: Scott Green, President
Torrey Lawrence, Interim Provost and Executive Vice President
DATE: Sept. 8, 2020
SUBJECT: Surveillance and Wastewater Testing Provide Data
Surveillance testing for COVID-19 is underway at the University of Idaho. Several tools are helping us better understand where to focus our efforts.
As cases in Whitman County grew last week, we offered testing to all Whitman County employees. In addition, we tested random samples of students from Housing and Residence Life, Greek Life and off-campus housing. We will continue to invite students, faculty and staff to participate in this testing. If you receive an email request, please consider participating.
A team of U of I researchers worked this summer to develop methods of testing wastewater for coronavirus. With the help of Facilities staff, a sampling of eight specific on-campus living areas began last week. Results show that two areas within the residence halls showed evidence of the virus. While we expected to find some level of the virus due to prior-known positives (those who had the virus earlier this year), out of an abundance of caution we will test all students in those two residence hall areas.
Students in affected locations were notified of the results Saturday, reminded to diligently follow safety measures, and told to look for testing details. They will be tested this week with all results available by Friday. Public Health confirmed that quarantine is not necessary for these students; however, we have asked them to participate in their courses via remote delivery where possible and we ask faculty to support them with these requests.
As before, any student who tests positive will be contacted by a physician and Public Health and instructed to isolate. Contact tracing will follow. The university will provide additional support to students who live in university residences and are instructed to isolate (positive test result) or quarantine (direct contact, according to Public Health).
We will continue to test wastewater twice weekly. Results will focus our individual testing efforts and increase our ability to isolate infection of students living on campus.
All community members should continue to follow safety measures outlined in the Healthy Vandal Pledge. If you have any questions, please email covid19questions@uidaho.edu.
Scott Green
President
president@uidaho.edu
uidaho.edu/president
Torrey Lawrence
Interim Provost and Executive Vice President