September 15, 2020
UCF next week will begin random testing for COVID-19 to help determine how prevalent the virus is on our campus. By detecting possible outbreaks and identifying emerging trends, we can strengthen the university’s efforts to slow the spread of the virus and protect the health and well-being of our campus community.
We will begin with a random sample of about 100 students who belong to Greek organizations because Greek students have been at higher risk of contracting the virus at universities throughout the country and because UCF has already had to quarantine residents of three on-campus houses.
Students who are part of the first round of testing will be notified via their Knights email on Thursday. They will be required to participate in testing with our partner, Aventus Biolabs, between Monday, Sept. 21 and Wednesday, Sept. 23, in Garage A. The university will cover the cost of the tests.
We know you will have questions about our testing, and we will communicate more details soon, both to the group that will be tested next week and our entire campus community.
Our contact tracers will follow up with anyone who tests positive and requires isolation and with others who should quarantine due to potential exposure to the virus. If we identify an unexpectedly high rate of cases through random testing, we will further review the situation and may conduct additional testing to help contain the spread of COVID-19.
This testing will continue throughout the semester with randomly selected members of groups that we believe may be at risk of increased rates of COVID-19 cases, or with students, faculty and staff selected randomly.
Random tests will be required for students, faculty and staff who are selected, unless they never come to any UCF campus. Those who do come to campus and refuse to be tested may be required to self-isolate and remain off campus for two weeks and also may be subject to disciplinary action.
UCF will continue to offer testing to the entire university community through Aventus Biolabs. Testing is available in Garage A from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday.
To request a telehealth visit to be screened for possible testing in Garage A, students, faculty and staff can call UCF’s COVID Line at 407-823-2509. You can also call the COVID Line to report positive tests or ask questions about symptoms. The COVID Line is available from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week.
UCF continues to report all positive COVID-19 cases for UCF community members on our campus dashboard, regardless of whether those testing positive have ever come to campus.
I thank all of you for doing your part to help us reduce further spread of COVID-19. Stay safe, and Armor Up.
Dr. Michael Deichen, MD, MPH
Associate Vice President of UCF Student Health Services