UW–Madison : Required COVID Testing; What To Expect This Fall

Press release from the University of Wisconsin-Madison:

August 18, 2021

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Today, we’re announcing an expanded testing requirement for unvaccinated employees and students, and for those who are vaccinated but have not shared their proof of vaccination. Effective August 30, employees and students who have not shared proof of COVID-19 vaccination with UHS will be required to test weekly on campus. Those who are required to test weekly but fail to do so will be held accountable.  Affected students and employees will receive a follow-up message with more details.

As the university has done throughout the pandemic, we’re adapting our approach as needed to respond to changes in COVID-19 activity. The continuing high rate of infection due to the delta variant makes this expanded testing requirement necessary.  We continue to plan for a fall semester of in-person classes and other activity. The high levels of vaccination on campus, along with required masking and testing for those who are unvaccinated, should allow us to have a more normal semester than last fall.

We all know that it’s concerning and frustrating to see headlines about COVID-19 cases rising again. It can feel like we’re back where we were a year ago, which understandably can cause stress.

But there’s an important difference: we now have highly effective vaccines that protect against serious illness and hospitalization, and many people in our community are fully vaccinated. Vaccination is the key to defeating COVID-19.  

As we’ve done throughout the pandemic, UW–Madison is consulting with campus public health experts and closely monitoring conditions on campus and in the community.

Here’s what we expect to happen over the next several weeks.

How the university is preparing

While we continue to plan for a fall semester of in-person classes and other activity, we’re enhancing our public health measures to respond to increasing cases locally, in addition to the testing requirement described above.

What you can do to stay healthy

Beginning Monday, August 23, University Health Services will begin offering additional doses to immunocompromised students.

Finally, we’d like to share some lessons learned from earlier in the pandemic that can help us now.

Research on COVID-19 at UW–Madison in fall 2020 has found that infections spread primarily through higher-risk social activities, such as off-campus parties and bars, rather than through academic activities, like classroom instruction and research, where masks were required.

The best way to ensure an academic year with as much in-person activity and as little disruption as possible is to get vaccinated and to mask up indoors. And if you feel sick, get tested and stay home.

Thank you for taking these simple and important steps to protect yourself, your friends and family and the broader community. We’ll continue to keep you updated through campus messages and online at covidresponse.wisc.edu.

This press release was produced by the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The views expressed here are the author’s own.