Messages

COVID-19 Update: Carolina Together Testing Program Reminders

Posted by University Communications, Friday, February 12th, 2021
Woman at testing center.
UNC student Ariel Lam takes part in COVID-19 testing at the UNC-CH COVID testing location at Frank Porter Graham Student Union on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. January 11, 2020. The self test is done with a swab and then sent to the UNC COVID Surveillance Laboratory for Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing process to determine if the sample is positive or negative for COVID-19. (Jon Gardiner/UNC-Chapel Hill)

Dear Carolina Community,  

 

We are excited to mark the first month of the Carolina Together Testing Program this week. We have seen tremendous participation since January 11, and that’s all due to the students, faculty and staff who are continuing to get tested in an effort to keep our community safe.  

In the last month, we have conducted over 53,000 tests. The positivity rate for the asymptomatic evaluation testing through the program is currently 0.54%. Our wait times continue to be around 5-10 minutes at the most, even as our volume of testing continues to increase. We hit our highest single collection day this past Monday, Feb. 8, with close to 2,900 samples collected. In addition, our HallPass web application has sent over 108,000 text messages over the past month to members to notify them of upcoming tests and results.   

Our faculty, staff and volunteers continue to work hard to make this all possible. The Carolina COVID-19 Student Service Corps has logged over 8,500 hours in the last month, with 84 students who have contributed 25 or more hours and seven students who have volunteered 50 or more hours alone.  

Below are a few important reminders on Wellness Day testing guidance, where to get a test, next week’s hours and an upcoming HallPass upgrade. 

Wellness Days Testing Guidance 

As we stated in our Feb. 8 message, we strongly discourage you from traveling out of the area during any Wellness Days. Each time you travel in and out of a community, you are risking bringing the virus back when you return. If you absolutely must travel, you are expected to test immediately upon your return and then again at least once in the following week. You should limit your social interactions for that week while continuing to practice the 3 W’s — wearing your mask, waiting six feet apart and washing your hands. Remember, a test result is only a snapshot of your status at the moment the test was taken, so it’s important that you test the additional time and limit your interactions after you return even if your re-entry test is negative.  

Where to Get Tested  

It’s important to remember that the Carolina Together Testing Centers are for asymptomatic evaluation testing only. If you are experiencing symptoms or have been identified as a close contact, students should be tested at Campus Health and faculty and staff should reach out to the University Employee Occupational Health Clinic. We have created a chart on the Carolina Together website to help you determine the appropriate place to get tested. This distinction is important because it helps limit any spread from occurring in the testing centers. If you are experiencing symptoms, visit the Carolina Together website for more information.  

If you have received a positive test result, please immediately follow the University’s COVID-19 Community Standards on quarantine and isolation. Do not return to a testing center and attempt to confirm your positive result with another test. Learn more about quarantine and isolation on the Carolina Together website. 

Hours and Parking 

In addition, the hours for the coming weekend and week are below. Please note the reduced hours on Monday, Feb. 15, for the first Wellness Day.  

  • Frank Porter Graham Student Union, gallery space, side closest to Davis Library  
    • Saturday, 11am-5pm 
    • Sunday, 11am-2pm 
    • Monday, 11am-2pm 
    • Tuesday through Friday, 7am-6pm  
    • Parking is available in the Undergraduate Library Parking Lot  
  • CURRENT ArtSpace + Studio  
    • Saturday, 11am-5pm 
    • Sunday, 11am-2pm 
    • Monday, 11am-2pm 
    • Tuesday through Friday, 9am-6pm  
    • Parking is available in the Granville Towers West Parking Lot  
  • UNC Rams Head Recreation Center, multi-purpose room, closest to dining hall  
    • Saturday, 11am-5pm 
    • Sunday, CLOSED 
    • Monday, 11am-2pm 
    • Tuesday through Friday, 9am-6pm  
    • Parking is available in the Rams Head Parking Deck  
      • Pull ticket from machine upon entry  
      • Validate parking at the testing site  
      • Give validation ticket to parking attendant upon exit  

You can find maps to the parking locations on the Carolina Together website. There are signs for designated spots at the Undergraduate Library lot and at Granville Towers.  

HallPass Outage for Upgrades 

Please note that HallPass will be making upgrades that will require a scheduled outage this Sunday, Feb. 14, starting at 10pm and running until 3am early Monday. During the outage, the HallPass site will be unavailable. These upgrades will speed up the collection process, remove the need for hand-written labels and decrease the likelihood of error. 

Sincerely,  

The Carolina Together Testing Program Team 

You May Also Like...