Undergraduate students at Northwestern University will have to line up once again and be tested for COVID-19.
In a website message to those students, University vice-presidents Luke Figora and Julie Payne-Kirchmeier say that campus positivity rates are low and COVID cases, which had ticked up after school began last month, are going back down.
However, they also say that “In the interest of maintaining confidence in the current campus environment, we are asking all undergraduates to complete one COVID-19 test over the next three weeks,” regardless of vaccination status.
COVID vaccination is a requirement for NU students, unless they are given an exemption. The university says more than 97% of students have received their shots.
Undergraduates were also required to get a COVID test during the period Sept. 27-Oct. 1.
The latest round of testing will also be administered at the Jacobs Center on campus, and will be staggered based on last names.
The two administrators thank the NU community for staying safe and healthy, and say, “Based on results so far, we are optimistic about the remainder of the term.”
The university’s COVID dashboard shows a test positivity rate of 0.51% for the period October 1-7, with only 28 positive cases reported.