Before the holidays, get tested
Exit testing for the virus is part of student plans. Faculty and staff should also get tested before the holidays, say Carolina health experts. Here’s why and how.
With the current spike in COVID-19 cases coinciding with the upcoming holidays, getting a screening test before visiting family and friends can help reduce the viral spread, say Carolina health experts. And finding a free COVID-19 test is easier than ever.
A COVID-19 screening test is meant to tell asymptomatic individuals whether they have the virus without knowing it, said Michelle Camarena, director of nursing and performance improvement at Campus Health.
“The test is important,” Camarena said. “But it is just one component of the strategies for folks to keep themselves and their family safe and healthy as they go home or travel for the holidays.”
First, she said, always adhere to the three Ws — wearing a mask, waiting 6 feet apart from others and washing your hands. In addition, you should monitor yourself for symptoms using a COVID-19 symptoms checklist. The University’s office of Environment, Health and Safety offers an interactive screening checklist and other resources for employees.
For the 14 days prior to travel, Camarena recommends that you modify your behavior to avoid being in groups or other high-risk situations in order to avoid potential exposures to the virus.
Amy Sauls, director of pharmacy and professional services at Campus Health, said individuals should not wait until the day before traveling to get tested because it may take one to two business days to receive results, depending on the kind of test.
“I advise travelers to look at the entry requirements for the state or country that they are going into,” Sauls said. “Travelers can go to the government website for the locations that they’re entering to see if there are testing requirements for entering travelers, because different states and countries all have different testing requirements.”
For example, North Carolina lists pandemic travel guidelines here.
Environment, Health and Safety Executive Director Cathy Brennan agreed, saying that the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services recommends getting a screening test three to four days prior to traveling, especially if people are planning to use mass transit or be in a larger group setting.
The health experts also said that one of the most proactive things people can do to protect themselves and others is to get a flu vaccine.
“It is possible to get the flu and COVID-19 at the same time,” Camarena said. “And we want folks to protect themselves.”
If you do test positive, Camarena said, you should follow quarantine guidelines in order to keep family and community members safe. The UNC Office of Human Resources and Equal Opportunity and Compliance provides guidance on Employee Health and Wellness during COVID-19.
Brennan said that the University has partnered with the Orange County Health Department to open a COVID-19 testing site. Testing is available for anyone, with or without symptoms, every weekday starting Monday, Nov. 16, at the R7 Parking Lot at 725 Martin Luther King Blvd, in Chapel Hill. The test is done with a nasal swab, which is more accurate than a saliva-based test.
The weekday testing at the R7 Lot is free and available to anyone who meets the testing criteria, including uninsured, underinsured, undocumented and homeless individuals. Appointments are recommended and can be made here.
Orange County also offers weekday testing in Hillsborough and other testing events. For more information visit the county website.
Even if you test negative, Brennan said it is still important to follow the 3 Ws, especially wearing a mask.
“A negative result just means you were negative the day you took the test,” Brennan said. “So potentially, if you did something the next day and didn’t wear a mask, you could have exposed yourself.”
