Every Student Moving Into CU Residences Requires COVID-19 Test

BOULDER, CO — Students who are moving into University of Colorado Boulder residence halls will need to get tested for the coronavirus, officials announced Friday. The rule is part of the university's latest coronavirus guidelines, which include other measures for ensuring the safety of staff and students.

In a letter to the campus community, CU Boulder officials said that students living on campus will be required to undergo a COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) RT-PCR test within five days of moving into the residence halls.

"Recognizing that it may not be possible for some students to get a test in advance, the campus is preparing to provide a limited number of RT-PCR and rapid-response tests on campus for residence hall students prior to their check-in," the letter read. "More information on this process will be forthcoming."

Don't miss the latest news updates in Boulder: Free Boulder Patch Newsletters and Email Alerts | Facebook | Twitter

The move-in period for residences has been extended this year to allow for greater social distancing and scheduled check-in options for families, officials said.

"The campus has not yet made a decision regarding testing requirements in advance of the fall semester for off-campus students, but we expect to make a decision soon," the letter read.

"We are continuing to monitor public health requirements from the state that may include testing of students living off campus and state guidance on students arriving from certain geographical areas who may need to be quarantined."

Other plans that are underway at CU Boulder:

• As part of ongoing campus monitoring and contact tracing, employees will be able to be tested on campus
• CU Boulder is working on plans to conduct surveillance testing to monitor up to 9,000 students, staff and faculty at higher risk for infection
• University officials are preparing to implement daily wastewater monitoring at 20 locations on the campus, with a focus on residence halls and select high-use buildings
• The university is developing contact tracing capabilities that will serve in conjunction with Boulder County Public Health's tracing system
• The university has facilities designated for isolation and quarantine for students living on campus