COVID-19 Testing Requirements
The following guidance and updates on testing were shared with students this past week.
Dear Students,
Thank you for your patience as we continue to work through the changing Connecticut state regulations and health guidance on COVID-19 testing. We have several important updates to share with you.
Testing Requirement
All students, including those living on campus and commuters, will be required to be tested prior to the start of the semester.
Residential students: As a reminder, you must show documentation of a negative diagnostic COVID-19 test that was taken within 14 days prior to moving in. Please upload your results to our secure form (must log in with UHart email and password). If your results are negative, you will be able to move in as scheduled.
If you test positive, you should stay home until you are cleared by a physician. You will not be able to access your room without a documented negative test. No test = No key.
Commuters (including graduate students taking classes on campus): You must show documentation of a negative diagnostic COVID-19 test that was taken within 14 days prior to coming to campus. Please upload your results to our secure form (must log in with UHart email and password). If your results are negative, you will be able to come to campus and go to class.
If you test positive, you should stay home until you are cleared by a physician. You will not be able to come to campus or go to class without a documented negative test.
Accessing Tests
We have heard from some families that, depending on your home state, finding a test may be difficult. Here are some suggestions that may make obtaining a test easier for you.
If you live in Connecticut: We recommend going through Hartford HealthCare, our on-campus health service provider. They have nine drive-up testing centers in the state and results are typically ready within three days. If you have questions about Hartford HealthCare’s testing, please call its Community Care Center at 833.621.0600. You may also visit Connecticut’s COVID-19 Testing Locator to find additional testing locations.
If you live outside of Connecticut: Availability and criteria for who can obtain a test vary from state to state. We recommend visiting the Department of Health & Human Services website to find information for your state. The site also includes details on low-cost or free testing.
At-Home Test:
We are partnering with Vault, a provider of COVID-19 tests that you can take at home. Please visit the Vault website to learn more about the process and costs. We are unable to accept other mail-in or at-home tests because many are not FDA approved.
Ongoing Testing
Each week, between 5 and 10 percent of residential students will be selected for asymptomatic COVID-19 testing. If you are selected, you will be notified by email. This test is not optional. You must report to the on-campus testing site as instructed. This test will be administered at no cost to you.
Currently, there is no ongoing testing expectation for non-residential students. Commuters and graduate students taking classes on campus may be asked, as capacity allows, to obtain an asymptomatic test due to contact tracing efforts when risk of exposure is considered high.
Traveling from a Restricted State
As we have communicated, a Connecticut Travel Advisory is putting restrictions on visitors from dozens of states and Puerto Rico. The Governor’s Executive Order has evolved over the last week, which is leading to a major change for our many of students: If you are coming from one of those states, you will have to quarantine for 14 days upon arriving in Connecticut. Under state regulations, a negative test taken prior to coming to Connecticut is no longer a substitute for quarantining. You must also fill out the Connecticut Travel Health Form. Please visit CT.gov for a list of the states, but keep in mind that it is subject to change due to health conditions across the country. International students should follow the guidance outlined on the CDC website, but in most cases will also quarantine for 14 days upon arriving in Connecticut.
We know this is not the way you want to start your fall semester, but we must all follow the Executive Order to preserve the health and well-being of our community. Residential students may complete their quarantine in University housing or off campus, and are expected to limit activities and movement during this time. If you are quarantining on campus, you may pick up food from the University Commons while wearing a mask and practicing social distancing, or have food delivered. Per the current guidelines, limited numbers of students can share bathrooms and cleaning expectations and schedules will be shared. You will also be able to be outside if wearing a mask and social distancing. We will continue to share additional details of our quarantine and residential policies, as well as how this change will impact classes for students in quarantine.
Please continue to check hartford.edu/healthy-hawks for updates and FAQs. If you have any questions, please email COVID19@hartford.edu.
Thank you,
Student Health Services