UB to test 20% of in-person faculty, staff for coronavirus

Pre-Thanksgiving break testing of UB students is continuing this week at sites on UB’s three campuses. And with parts of Erie County showing recent increases in COVID-19 positivity rates, cases and hospital admissions, surveillance testing will be stepped up for faculty and staff members as well, beginning today.

Now that parts of Erie County meet the metrics for a “yellow zone” designation by New York State, UB is required to conduct COVID-19 weekly testing of at least 20% of in-person employees, says Mark Coldren, associate vice president for human resources.

Employees who work entirely remotely will not be asked to come to campus for a test, Coldren adds.

Faculty and staff members selected for testing will receive an email with further details about registration and testing options, he says.

Testing of both students and employees is being done at Alumni Arena on the North Campus, Harriman Hall on the South Campus and at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences on the Downtown Campus.

The new Alumni Arena testing site was set up by experts in environmental safety to accommodate the large number of students who need to be tested before they return home, Coldren says, noting the layout and administration of the larger space have allowed for social distancing to be maintained, creating a safe, efficient and speedy process for all.

Employees who are selected for testing can walk in any time during the scheduled testing times. This week, Nov. 11-13, testing will take place from 9 a.m. through 4:30 p.m. in Alumni Arena and from 9 a.m. through 2:30 p.m. in the Harriman Hall Ballroom. Testing also will be available from 11 a.m. through 1 p.m. on Nov. 12 on the second floor of the Jacobs School.

Those being tested collect their own saliva samples by swabbing the inside of their mouths for 15 seconds; a test kit will be provided.