Health Services will provide current University at Buffalo students (and their families) with the latest information and service announcements during the COVID-19 pandemic.
UB has implemented a COVID-19 surveillance testing program for asymptomatic community members. Learn more about this invitation-based preventative testing process
If you have symptoms or have been a close contact of someone who has tested positive, see below for testing options.
Students living on campus who are experiencing symptoms within the past 10 days, have had a positive COVID-19 viral test result in the past 10 days, or are awaiting the results of a COVID-19 viral test, have had interaction with a confirmed or suspected COVID-19 positive case within the past 14 days, or have risk due to high-risk travel within the past 14 days are advised to arrange for temporary quarantine/isolation housing:
Once you have been moved to temporary quarantine/isolation housing, testing for COVID-19 can be arranged by contacting Health Services. If it is recommended that you go off-campus for testing (e.g.. due to insurance coverage limitations) and do not have private transportation, transportation assistance will be offered at no cost. For testing options on Saturdays and Sundays, residential students in quarantine/isolation housing should follow the instructions for off-campus students below.
Students who live off-campus who have experienced specific symptoms within the past 10 days or who have had interaction with a confirmed or suspected COVID-19 positive case within the past 14 days are encouraged to obtain a COVID-19 test.
If you have private transportation: find a testing location near you in the table below or call the NYS testing hotline at 1-888-364-3065 and schedule an appointment.
If you do not have private transportation and live off-campus and were advised to get tested for COVID-19 by the Daily Health Check, your health care provider, or local health department:
(The transportation provided is to the testing site and back to the pick-up location, no additional or alternate stops can be accommodated.)
| Facility | Address | Phone Number |
|---|---|---|
| New York State Testing Center - Buffalo | 125 Perry St, Buffalo, NY 14204 | 1-888-364-3065 or make an appointment online |
| Erie County Department of Health (ECDOH) - Amherst | 450 Maple Rd. Amherst, NY 14221 | 716-858-2929 |
| Well Now - Amherst | 3980 Sheridan Dr. Amherst NY 14226 | Make an appointment online |
| Well Now - Amherst | 3921 Harlem Rd. Buffalo, NY 14226 | Make an appointment online |
| Walgreens | 3488 Main St. Buffalo, NY 14214
| Make an appointment online |
| Rite Aid | 2474 Bailey Ave., Buffalo, NY 14215 | Make an appointment online |
| CVS | 392 Kenmore Ave., Kenmore, NY 14223 | Make an appointment online |
| WNY Immediate Care | 2099 Niagara Falls Blvd., Amherst, NY 14228 | Make an appointment online |
| WNY Immediate Care | 2497 Delaware Ave., Buffalo, NY 14216 | Make an appointment online |
*Erie County and NYS testing sites offer free testing. Other locations may bill your health insurance or expect payment at the time of testing.
View a searchable map of additional testing locations.
Per the Commissioner of the Erie County Department of Health, if you have symptoms of COVID-19 and are awaiting test results or if you test positive for COVID-19, regardless of your symptoms, you need to be in isolation until certain criteria are met. See the links below for the criteria and information on how to protect yourself and the community.
As part of UB’s comprehensive efforts to monitor and prevent the spread of COVID-19, the university has established a reporting process for students living on- and off-campus who have tested positive for the virus.
For confidential reporting:
> We cannot provide travel clearance documents relating to COVID-19.
> We can not/do not provide documentation regarding your health infection status.
> We do not issues class excuses.
These answers are in accordance with current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and local and New York State Health Department guidance.
For a close contact, with no symptoms, you can end quarantine after 10 days, but must continue to monitor for symptoms until day 14. If you develop symptoms, please contact your health care provider and local health department.
If you are currently in quarantine due to travel from a COVID-19 advisory location, you must quarantine for 10 days, or utilize the test-out process outlined by New York State. here: https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/covid-19-travel-advisory.
These answers are in accordance with current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and local and New York State Health Department guidance.
Updated December 31, 2020
Authoritative Source: Health Services
The answer will be dependent on the type of testing:
With a positive COVID-19 test result and you were sick (symptomatic) when you were tested, your mandatory isolation period will end when all 3 criteria are met:
With a positive COVID-19 test result and you were NOT sick (asymptomatic) when you were tested, your mandatory isolation period will end:
If you are in isolation because you had a COVID-19 test and are waiting for results, and now your results are negative your isolation period will end:
If you are in isolation because you participated in “pool” surveillance testing and you were told your “pool” was positive, you must isolate as follows based on the results of your individual test:
If you are in isolation because you participated in “pool” surveillance testing and you were told your “pool” was positive, you must isolate as follows based on the results of your individual test:
Students may also receive an order of quarantine from the local Erie County Department of Health (ECDOH) as a result of potential exposure, pending test results or a positive test result. View ECDOH “Commissioner's Order for Quarantine” document in the “Isolation & Quarantine Documents and Forms” section of their website.
Updated December 9, 2020
Authoritative Source: Health Services
You can help yourself and your campus community by doing the following:
We are aware that incoming students may have difficulty obtaining immunization records with the current COVID-19 pandemic. Rest assured that you still have plenty of time to obtain and submit your records to us as Spring 2021 classes do not begin until February 1, 2021.
To make things as easy as possible for our students, we will accept records via mail, fax, or email. Here are some ways you may be able to obtain a copy of your records:
If you have any questions regarding health insurance or need to make a payment, please email our office. A payment link will be sent in the reply email for any payments.
The SUNY International Student Health Insurance Program with UHC offers comprehensive coverage for those students that need COVID-19 testing or contract the virus.
Counseling Services is here to help with the following tips to help you manage your anxiety.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, TAO has decided to make our Mindfulness Library free for everyone. Please feel free to share with family, friends, or anyone else who might benefit from enhancing their mindfulness practice.
All exercises are available in both English and French: https://www.taoconnect.org/mindfulness-exercise/
There is now a free mental health crisis line for residents of New York State. A person can schedule a FREE appointment with a mental health professional by calling 1-844-863-9314.
The Erie County Department of Health has created a hotline for COVID-19 related calls: 716-858-2929
Student Life
University at Buffalo
Michael Hall, 3435 Main Street, South Campus
Buffalo, NY 14214
Phone: (716) 829-3316; Fax: (716) 829-2564
UB's Health Services is unable to provide information about the NY State Department of Health’s COVID vaccination clinics being held at Harriman Hall on UB’s South Campus. For information about these clinics, including eligibility and to make an appointment, please call the NYS Health Department’s COVID vaccine hotline phone number: 1-833-697-4829 (1-833-NYS-4-VAX) or refer to their website.
