Covid Surveillance Testing Underway At Western Illinois University Campuses
MACOMB/Moline, IL – Surveillance testing is underway on Western Illinois Unviersity’s Macomb and Quad Cities campuses. Each week, approximately 700 students, faculty and staff will receive an email encouraging them to get a free COVID test provided by Beu Health Center. According to Executive Director of Auxiliary Services and Risk Management Joe Roselieb, the University is now using the self-administered BD Veritor nasal swab tests, which are completed on-site at the test distribution center on the Macomb Campus. The Quad Cities campus will continue to administer a saliva-based test that is processed through a third-party laboratory.
“You can drive up or walk up to the test site on the Macomb campus in the Union meter lot, or walk up to the front desk of Riverfront Hall on the QC campus on the dates that the surveillance test email specifies to obtain the test. It takes less than a minute to complete both tests, and you will have your results from Beu Health Center staff within 24 hours for the BD Veritor test and within 48-36 hours for the saliva-based PCR test. Those who test positive will receive a call from Beu staff, while those who test negative with the BD Veritor test will be notified via email the same day,” Roselieb explained. “Using the fast, self-administered BD Veritor test that can be done on site will expedite our testing 
procedures, and allow us to quickly notify those who must go into quarantine or isolation. This also helps speed up the contact tracing process to help mitigate the spread of the virus.”
For more information, bit.ly/WIUCOVIDHealthHygiene.
“We encourage everyone who is contacted as part of the surveillance testing to take advantage of the test opportunities we’re providing at no cost to our University community,” added Beu Health Center Medical Chief of Staff Dr. Michael Waters. “It takes only a few minutes, and it not only provides you with a peace of mind, it helps in our efforts to keep those around you and our entire University community healthy.”
In addition, a free flu shot drive-thru/walk-up clinic for employees (and retirees) will be held from 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 8 in Q-Lot. Masks are required to participate. Participants will need to present a WIU ID card and a state-issued health insurance ID card to obtain a shot, which will be administered as long as supplies last.
Free flu shot clinics for students on the Macomb campus will be held from 1:30-3:30 p.m. in the Student Recreation Center Mac Gym on Tuesday, Oct. 13, Wednesday, Oct. 14, Wednesday, Oct. 21, Tuesday, Oct. 27, Thursday, Oct. 29 and Tuesday, Nov. 10. Students will need to present their University ID.
For more information on WIU COVID protocols, visit wiu.edu/coronavirus.
