COVID-19 Back-to-School: Living in and Around College Campus

Published by INDICAID

Heading to campus? Most college campuses and communities are back to living life to the fullest with events, game days, and more on the horizon. We want to ensure you keep yourself and those around you healthy by regularly testing for COVID-19 to eliminate the risk of exposure with information regarding testing and being back at college.  

Enjoy College Life While Staying Informed

With school back – and young people heading off to college, it is important that everyone understands the importance of COVID-19 testing while still enjoying college life, and all that it has to offer. While living in the excitement, make sure you stay informed of your health and COVID-19 status by testing!  

The CDC has continued to update COVID-19 guidelines, however, the importance of testing remains. 

Every college is different when it comes to COVID-19 protocols, but one thing remains clear: testing matters.

Enjoy the football games, the events, being with friends, and going home for the weekend, but be mindful of those around you. Continue to monitor your health by regularly testing for COVID-19.

Why is Testing Important?

According to a Science News article from July 2022: “Getting a COVID-19 test has become a regular part of many college students’ lives. That ritual may protect not just those students’ classmates and professors but also their municipal bus drivers, neighbors and other members of the local community, a new study suggests.” 

Colleges are at a higher risk of a “super spread” event of COVID-19. With Omicron Variant BA5 being the most transferable variant yet, there are sure to be additional variants with the same or higher risk to come. 

• Eliminate the risk of exposure to you and those around you, especially those high-risk individuals you have close contact with
• Maintain knowledge of your status while continuing to live life 
• Keep those in the surrounding community safe 

When Should You Test?

The FDA has released new guidelines regarding asymptomatic individuals. 

According to The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), they are advising people to perform repeat, or serial, testing following a negative result on any at-home COVID-19 antigen test, to reduce the risk an infection may be missed (false negative result) and to help prevent people from unknowingly spreading the SARS-CoV-2 virus to others. The FDA recommends repeat testing following a negative result whether or not you have COVID-19 symptoms. 

Additionally, if repeat testing is not performed after a negative result, an infection may be missed and people may unknowingly spread the SARS-CoV-2 virus to others, especially if they are not experiencing symptoms.

A few scenarios of when you should test are as follows:

• Before and after an event/gathering (incl. Sporting events, Sorority & Fraternity events, concerts, and other crowded events) 
• Before and after traveling (whether it is for a vacation or a visit home) 
• If you are experiencing symptoms (incl. fever, cough, and loss of taste/smell) 
• If you have been exposed to those who have tested positive for COVID-19 

Rapid Antigen At-Home Test