Salisbury University President Charles Wight said an increase in the university’s COVID-19 testing frequency requirement is “very likely” in the near future during his weekly coronavirus briefing Thursday.
Wight said SU’s campus health team is currently working with the Wicomico County Health Department on details for a new COVID-19 testing plan.
The highly contagious coronavirus variants spreading rapidly across the country were cited as cause for the expected uptick in testing frequency.
Chief of Staff Eli Modlin said Sea Gulls who participate in “higher risk activities,” such as student athletes, may soon be required to be tested as frequently as twice per week during the university’s first open town hall of the semester Feb. 7.
SU’s COVID-19 testing has identified nine cases of the virus over the past week, with the most recent batch of results containing zero positive cases across nearly 500 tests, per the university’s coronavirus dashboard. The campus’ COVID-19 positivity rate continues to sit well below 1%.
The state’s COVID-19 positivity rate has also recently decreased and is now parked at 5.78%, per the dashboard.
The next available SU coronavirus testing dates are Feb. 16, 18, 21, 23, 25 and 27 as the university will now also be offering testing on weekends.
All university coronavirus testing will continue to be administered in the Great Hall of Holloway Hall.
SU is also designing a new coronavirus testing interface to allow campus community members to schedule all future COVID-19 testing dates at once, Modlin said.
For more information on SU’s 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 courtesy of KESQ.