Dear Members of the Campus Community,
Thank you for your continued diligence in observing COVID-19 safety protocols. As a reminder, ALL members of the campus community are required to complete COVID-19 gateway testing upon returning to campus following Thanksgiving break. Please read below for details regarding how to test.  

When to test:  
Based on CDC guidance, the recommended testing interval is 5–7 days after an exposure for fully vaccinated individuals. Unvaccinated or symptomatic individuals should test right away after exposure. Though many of us will not have a known exposure to COVID-19, based on the dates of travel and of Thanksgiving gatherings, please get tested between Monday, November 29–Thursday December 2 depending on your activities over the break. Stay home if you have symptoms, and do not attend work or class until COVID-19 has been ruled out.  

Where to test: 
You may test on campus using pooled saliva testing. If you choose to test off campus, please inform the Contact Tracing Team of your results by emailing them to contacttracing@pugetsound.edu.  

How to test: 
There are two options for saliva testing on campus.  

Drop off a test

  • Test kits and the saliva sample drop box are located upstairs in Wheelock Student Center across from the Dean’s office/room 208.  
  • You are welcome to pick up a test kit in advance of the break, but please do not collect your sample until after your arrival back on campus.
  • Directions for how to produce a saliva sample are posted on the bulletin board behind the drop box, and can also be found here
  • Please wait a half hour after eating or drinking or brushing your teeth before producing your sample. Wait two hours after using mouthwash. 
  • Please do not produce your sample in the hallway or near the drop box. Please take a saliva test kit with you and test in a private location before bringing back a completed sample.
  • After you have finished your sample, please put the vial in the small bag and label the bag with your first and last name, and place it in the drop box. 
  • Turn in your sample before 2:30 p.m., and it will be sent to the lab the same day.

Walk-through testing

  • Walk-through saliva testing (similar to what was offered last year in the testing tent) will be available in the Wheelock Student Center Rotunda Monday, November 29–Thursday, December 2, 9 a.m.–1 p.m.
  • Campus members can come to the Rotunda, check in with CHWS staff, receive a test kit, provide their sample, and drop the sample vial into one of the collection bins.  Please do not bag or label samples; each barcode will be scanned during the check-in process. 

Thank you for your kind attention to these procedures.  If you have questions, please contact the CHWS Contact Tracing Team at contacttracing@pugetsound.edu or call 253.879.2796. 

Also, on behalf of the COVID-19 Management Group, please note that an updated interim policy for in-person events that include participants other than students was posted on Nov. 4. Please refer to this and other guidance on the COVID-19 website to support a healthy campus.

Warm regards, 

Danielle Bus, RN (she/her)
Counseling, Health, and Wellness Services