News
U.Va. to require COVID-19 testing for all students before returning to Grounds
A free test kit will be delivered to each student who requests it through a University vendor

By Zach Rosenthal
July 16, 2020

All students will be required to submit a self-administered COVID-19 viral PCR test before receiving clearance to return to Grounds, the University announced Thursday as it prepares to bring students back for fall classes next month. Mandatory testing is just one of the University’s several public health measures, including virtual daily health checks and requiring all students to wear masks in public spaces.

Free COVID-19 test kits will be delivered by mail to students who request it from a third-party vendor contracted by the University. A PCR test — also known as a nasal swab — is designed to detect the presence of virus antigens in an infected individual.

Tests must be sent to the lab no fewer than seven days before returning to Grounds, and results will be available within 24-48 hours after the lab receives the sample. A negative test is required for students to return to Grounds.

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