Dear Howard University Community,

The Howard University Re-opening Plan outlined that faculty, students and staff planning to be on campus this semester must present a negative COVID-19 result or be tested on campus prior to entry. We will continue to test faculty, staff and students throughout the semester.

As noted in the plan, re-testing and screening will occur at a frequency determined by health professionals based on health indicators designed to measure the prevalence of the virus on campus or in the geographic region. Residential students will be tested on a weekly basis in a 7-day rolling format.

Over the initial five weeks of the Fall 2020 semester, the COVID-19 positivity rate for testing conducted on campus has been less than 1%.

• Any student or staff member who has symptoms or has had close contact with someone who has tested positive must get re-tested five to seven days after exposure, in coordination with Student Health Services (for students), their primary healthcare provider, or Howard University Employee Health (for staff). 

 

The on-campus COVID-19 testing laboratory is now operational and can provide results within a 24-hour timeframe. After initial testing, any member of the Howard University Community who will be on campus for more than four hours in any given week must participate in the screening and testing regimen as outlined below.

All students, faculty and staff who will be on campus must also complete the Bison Safe screen daily before entering campus.

Testing for Students:

Students living in residential housing (Axis) will be tested weekly. A rolling testing schedule will be provided to facilitate daily testing through the Student Health Center.

Student-Athletes will be tested every three days (the frequency of testing may be modified to comply with NCAA guidelines). A rolling testing schedule will be provided to facilitate daily testing through the Student Health Center.

Health Professional Students will be tested at least bi-weekly. Students participating in clinical rotations must additionally adhere to the testing regimen outlined by the facility where training is being conducted.

COVID-19 testing for students will continue in the Student Health Center by appointment only during regular business hours:

• Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday: 8:30 a.m. - noon and 1:30 - 3 p.m.
• Wednesday: 8:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Students may schedule appointments online using Signup Genius to login and self-schedule. This sign-up link will be available through the rest of this semester and has the capacity to schedule all student groups on campus. Please call 202-806-7540 or email studenthealthforms@howard.edu for additional information. 



Testing for Faculty and Staff:

Employees in the Health Professional Schools will be tested bi-weekly. If they are engaged in activities at Howard University Hospital, they must adhere to the regimen outlined by HUH.

Employees in the non-Health Professional Schools will be tested at least monthly. The frequency of testing of some employees may be recommended for a bi-weekly, weekly or more frequent schedule, depending upon the level of interaction with other individuals, guests, contractors, or visitors to campus.

Howard University employees may obtain COVID-19 testing at Howard University Hospital, Towers Building, Suite 3600. The testing hours of operation are Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. - noon and 1 - 4 p.m., and Friday from 9 a.m. to noon. The testing is conducted by appointment, and employees must present their Howard University ID. To schedule an appointment, please call 202-865-2107.

Contractors, Vendors and Film Crews:

In order to ensure the safety of the Howard campus community, all University vendors who furnish employees coming onto one or more of the locations of the University must provide written certification that such employees have received a negative COVID-19 test result, and that such employees have reviewed and agree to comply with all applicable elements of the University’s Fall 2020 Re-opening Plan, including vendor guidelines. We have sent our campus vendors the attached protocol letter. If the company providing the contractor/vendor is conducting testing at a more frequent regimen than the University guidance, the more frequent regimen will be maintained, and evidence of testing provided to the University office overseeing the work of the contractor/vendor.

Visiting film crew members are required to provide evidence of negative COVID-19 test within seven days of coming to campus. This certification and any accompanying documents are to be submitted to the vice president of communications. Each request to film on campus is subject to approval by the Office of University Communications on a case by case basis.

The guidance provided above will be re-assessed on an ongoing basis by the Public Health team and our COVID-19 health professionals for adjustment if we observe an increase in the positivity rate, either on-campus or in the neighboring jurisdictions.

Excellence in Truth and Service, 

  

Anthony K. Wutoh, Ph.D., R.Ph.                        Hugh E. Mighty, MD, MBA

Provost & Chief Academic Officer                      Dean, College of Medicine &

                                                                           Vice President for Clinical Affairs