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Increasing Rutgers COVID-19 Testing Frequency

December 15, 2020

Dear Rutgers University Community Members,

As local COVID-19 transmission rates rise, exposure risks to those we have fought hard to keep safe have increased. In response, the university’s Testing Protocol Action Group is immediately increasing testing frequency among groups previously approved for testing through our targeted testing strategy.

Weekly Testing
Completion of SARS-CoV-2 testing for groups and individuals previously approved for testing will be expected on a weekly basis effective December 14. Those previously tested on campus should complete the Testing Form and make an appointment at the nearest test site once per week by accessing rtr.ipo.rutgers.edu/questionnaire. Some groups who have received test kits through their departments will continue to do so, and will be contacted by their supervisor or program coordinator with new weekly testing information. Others may be moved to grab-and-go to facilitate testing.

Employees or students who have not previously been approved for testing, but are now regularly scheduled to be on campus, should work with their supervisor or program coordinator to complete the testing request form and seek approval.

Due to new information requests from our testing partners, ALL tested individuals - including those who have previously provided information for testing - must complete the revised Long Testing Form. To maximize user convenience, subsequent testing will only require individuals to complete a more brief Short Testing Form. Examples of the forms and an accompanying tutorial are available on the testing strategy webpage.

Positivity Notification
Employees and students who are regularly present on campus should inform Occupational Health or Student Health if they test positive for COVID-19. Contact information for these offices can be found in this email below the signature.

It is important to note that privacy laws generally prohibit disclosing the identities of individuals who are known to be infected with COVID-19. Consistent with the Governor’s Executive Order 192 and NJ Department of Health and CDC guidance, Occupational Health or Student Health will make reasonable effort to notify members of the Rutgers community who are known to have had close contact with a known COVID-19 positive individual on campus. Rutgers does not notify community members who have not been determined to have had such exposure (“close contact”), per the NJ DOH and CDC guidance on contact tracing.

Further, New Jersey’s COVID Alert NJ mobile app is a free and secure way to receive anonymous alerts if you have been in close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19. Learn more about the exposure app on New Jersey’s COVID-19 Information Hub. And be sure that the app is turned on.

We know there are many challenges yet to face in the weeks ahead. We are each responsible for the well-being of our community. Maintain adequate physical distancing, wear your mask, wash your hands frequently, and answer the phone when contact tracers call.

Please take good care of yourself and be kind to others. If you need support or counseling, please consider making use of one of the many behavioral health/well-being resources available to Rutgers students, faculty, and staff.

Wishing you good health,

Vicente Gracias, MD
Senior Vice Chancellor for Clinical Affairs, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences
Vice President for Health Affairs, Rutgers University

Brian L. Strom, MD, MPH
Chancellor, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences
Executive Vice President for Health Affairs, Rutgers University

Rutgers Student Health offices by location:

Rutgers Occupational Health offices by location: