Testing plans remain in place

Sept. 3, 2021

Plans for students and employees to be tested for COVID-19 next week have not changed, despite a two-week delay in the orders from Illinois Governor J.B. Prizker late today.

Earlier today Augustana College leaders announced plans to start COVID-19 testing at the campus clinic next Tuesday, Sept. 7. The testing will be for those who are not fully vaccinated and those who have not shared their vaccination status with the college.

Those individuals who need to be tested received personalized emails today with details. All of those receiving emails about testing should continue as outlined in the email.

President Steve Bahls, says, “We’ve long been planning to conduct testing this fall, and our testing plans and those issued by the governor last week supported each other," said President Steve Bahls. "Augustana will continue with those plans out of an abundance of caution.”

President Bahls acknowledged that colleges and universities across the country, and even in Illinois, have been challenged by rising COVID-19 cases on campus. A few have been forced to curtail programming because of outbreaks. Augustana is committed to reducing the chance of outbreaks on campus by its proactive vaccination, testing and quarantining plans.