Salisbury University President Dr. Charles Wight announced that the university’s coronavirus response plan includes maintaining its current combination of in-person, online and hybrid-formatted instruction after Thanksgiving break during his weekly COVID-19 briefing Thursday.
The announcement comes despite other institutions across the nation planning to conclude the fall semester virtually, not bringing any students back to campus, following the November holiday.
SU has seen a significant decline in positivity rate over the past week, now capturing 3.8% positivity across campus on the university’s coronavirus dashboard, down from a height of 6.2% positivity during the impromptu week of mandatory testing.
Going forward, every university member intending to come to campus must have a test on file within 30 days of their last test on a continual basis, according to the new SU testing protocols.
However, Wight did warn that “if we experience a jump in positivity rates, we might have to [test] more frequently, but, for right now, [testing will be] every 30 days, including after Thanksgiving.”
Wight also reported that the first set of campus community members — about one-third of the entire campus, including himself — just received notifications to participate in the university’s new monthly coronavirus testing requirement with instructions to schedule a test online.
All Salisbury University COVID-19 testing will continue to be administered at the former Court Plaza shopping center, 1506 S. Salisbury Blvd., though self-swab tests will now be made available with the assistance of an on-site registered nurse, Wight said during the briefing.
Wight did reiterate that SU testing will now be expanded to four days per week, with longer hours of operation, to curb long wait times for those in line.
“In addition to those who are being randomly selected each week, SU’s COVID-19 testing is open to students and employees who are symptomatic; are asymptomatic but may have been exposed; or are interested in getting tested for any other reason,” according to the SU COVID-19 Testing Information page.
For more information on SU’s new monthly testing protocols or to view the latest university COVID-19 test results, visit https://www.salisbury.edu/coronavirus/testing-info.aspx.
By JAKOB TODD
News editor
Featured image: Salisbury University President's Office.