COVID-19 testing plans finalized for students

With the guidance and expertise of internal and external public health experts, Clemson officials have established procedures and guidelines for testing students prior to their return for the Fall semester. The overarching priority of the University’s reopening plan remains the health and safety of the Clemson community.

The accepted method of testing for students is a negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test via nasal pharyngeal, throat or saliva taken within five days prior to their arrival on campus. Serologic antibody tests will not be accepted at this time. All on-campus residents are required to have a negative PCR test within five days prior to their arrival. While students who live off-campus will not be required to obtain a PCR test prior to arrival, approximately 600 off-campus students will be sample tested weekly beginning Monday, Aug. 17.

While there is no way to guarantee the entire community returns to campus COVID-free, these testing guidelines will limit active cases on campus and provide a baseline of incidence in the community. This pandemic has evolved rapidly in the past few months and weeks, and the below guidelines are in effect until otherwise altered or amended, and any changes will be communicated as needed. 

TESTING PROTOCOLS

On-campus residents

• Each student planning to live on campus must provide a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken within five days of their arrival.
• Students with acceptable test results are clear to come onto Clemson residential facilities at their appointed move-in time.
• In conjunction with the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), Clemson will provide PCR nasal pharyngeal testing for students at a near-campus location. However, students are encouraged to be tested at a location that will allow them to submit results to Clemson prior to their arrival.
• Student employees who have already participated in University-provided testing at NewSpring Church and received a negative COVID-19 test do not need to take a second test.
• Students who have taken a PCR test at any site other than the NewSpring location will be required to upload their results into Clemson’s COVID-19 Test Result Upload Tool.

Off-campus residents

• Students living off campus are not required to obtain a test prior to returning to campus. Approximately 600 off-campus students will be randomly selected for testing each week for a four-week period beginning Monday, Aug. 17.
• In conjunction with the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), Clemson will provide PCR nasal pharyngeal testing for students selected through the random sample. Students living off campus who are symptomatic will need to get tested.
• Student employees who have already participated in University-provided testing at NewSpring Church and received a negative COVID-19 test do not need to take a second test.
• The number of tests conducted is subject to change based on results. If an increase in infection is shown after the four-week period, the University may opt to test all students living off campus.
• For non-main-campus students such as those who attend class at CU-ICAR, MUSC has expanded mobile testing locations around the state, and an updated list of those locations is available HERE.

SUBMISSION OF TEST RESULTS
Results from students who have tests administered at the NewSpring location will be reported automatically to the University, and positive results will initiate an automated process to notify administrative areas of the University to begin cleaning, isolation/quarantine procedures (for on-campus residents), access protocols and contact tracing.

For those not tested at the NewSpring site, the COVID-19 Test Result Upload Tool is designed for students, faculty and staff to submit results from anywhere in the United States. After uploading a test result, clearance status will be determined and communicated to the individual via Clemson.edu email.

Submitted test results must include proper medical documentation containing your full name, date of birth, date of test, test result and type of test.

MEDICAL INFORMATION
Students who believe they may have been exposed, are ill with the virus or have received a positive COVID-19 test result should review and follow the protocols shared on Clemson’s COVID-19 Medical Guidance page.

All the latest information is available on the University’s Healthy Clemson: United as Tigers COVID-19 information website.