Rapid antigen tests now available for all arrival testing – sign up now

By Dan Anderson, staff

December 30, 2020

Elon provided COVID-19 testing as staff return after the winter break in Alumni Gym. The university is using rapid antigen tests.

UPDATE Dec. 30: Read this note for important information about arrival on campus and the requirements for COVID-19 testing.

Dear Elon Community,

We look forward to your arrival back on campus soon after the holidays. We ask that you limit social contacts in the days before returning to campus, consider getting a test prior to your return, and plan your arrival to campus for just prior to your appointment for testing on campus.

Please carefully review updates below regarding:

ALL arrival testing changing to rapid antigen tests (Abbott BinaxNow)
Making your appointment now for mandatory arrival testing
Completing the student flu vaccine requirement.

CHANGE: Rapid antigen testing will be used for ALL mandatory arrival testing

We are pleased to have now secured the rapid and highly accurate Abbott BinaxNow antigen tests for ALL students, faculty, and staff mandatory arrival testing.

This non-invasive nasal swab test, which Elon used for Thanksgiving pre-departure testing, will significantly reduce the 24-48 hour wait for results that is common with the PCR testing.

  • Your results will be posted within 3 hours  at the bottom of your My Readiness page.
    • Negative results do not require confirmation via PCR test.
    • Those with positive results are required to immediately return to the gym to take a PCR test and then quarantine at least until those results are returned within 24-48 hours (to avoid any chance of false positives).
    • Those with a positive result, confirmed by a positive PCR test, will be required by the Health Department to isolate for 10 days. Close contacts to positive cases will also be required to quarantine for 14 days.
  • Mandatory quarantine: All students must quarantine in their rooms, either in campus housing or off-campus, until they receive a negative test result. While awaiting results, students may go to dining halls, wearing masks, to pick up meals. No other access to campus facilities will be allowed.

We are grateful to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services for providing these tests from the federal allotment and to the North Carolina Independent Colleges & Universities organization for its support in gaining access to these tests.

Mandatory arrival testing: What you need to do

Review the revised Healthy Elon Commitment. By participating in Winter Term and Spring Semester, all students, faculty, and staff re-affirm their commitment to these shared practices to protect the community and decrease virus spread.
Review the arrival testing schedule and plan to test as soon as you return to campus.

>>See appointment schedule and sign-up links here. Only make one testing appointment.

Note: Students not completing arrival/entry testing will not be allowed to attend classes and will be asked to leave campus housing if they live on campus.

Note: Faculty members not working on campus, should delay testing until at least Wednesday, Jan. 6, in order to make room for staff reporting back to work on Monday, Jan. 4 and Tuesday, Jan. 5. Faculty members who will not be on campus for Winter Term should look for future communications regarding Spring Semester arrival testing.

Other circumstances: Arriving early/late, prior positives, etc.

COVID-19 Vaccine update: While we await information on COVID-19 vaccine availability, Elon medical staff continue to meet weekly with state and local officials to plan for COVID vaccine distribution as soon as it is available to us.

Reminder: Student flu vaccine requirement

All students must receive the annual flu vaccine before classes begin in January. Those students who had not completed this requirement by mid-December received a direct email with instructions for uploading confirmation of the flu vaccine to your Phoenix Health portal or requesting an exemption. Click here for additional information.

University offices remain closed until Monday, January 4. Students, staff or faculty with medical questions during this time should contact their primary medical providers.

We appreciate your commitment to protecting the health of the Elon community and we wish you a healthy and happy new year.

The Ready & Resilient Committee
Jeff Stein, Vice President for Strategic Initiatives and Assistant Professor of English (Chair)
Dan Anderson, Vice President of University Communications
Ginette Archinal, Medical Director of Student Health and University Physician
MarQuita Barker, Director of Residence Life
John Barnhill, Associate Vice President for University Advancement
Tom Flood, Assistant Vice President of Physical Plant
Jason Husser, Associate Professor of Political Science and Policy Studies, and Director of the Elon Poll (Academic Council Representative)
Deandra Little, Assistant Provost, Director of the Center for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning and Professor of English
Paul Miller, Assistant Provost for Academic Operations and Communications and Professor of Exercise Science
Kelly Reimer, Director of Teaching and Learning Technologies (Staff Council Representative)
Carrie Ryan, Director of Auxiliary Services
Kelli Shuman, Associate Vice President for Human Resources & Chief Human Resources Officer
Gabie Smith, Dean of Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences and Professor of Psychology
Mary Southern, Project Manager for Provost and Academic Affairs Operations (Project Manager)
Mike Ward, Deputy Director of Athletics
Randy Williams, Vice President and Associate Provost for Inclusive Excellence and Associate Professor of Education

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