A New Type of “Testing” Becomes the Norm in the College Experience

By Christina Moylan, September 11, 2020

A message from Christina Moylan, Director of Public Health Emergency Preparedness.

Public Health Column introduction video.

A big change for Ithaca College students, faculty and staff approved to access campus this fall is that they are required to participate in weekly testing to detect the presence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19 disease. We are also encouraging Ithaca College students living in the Ithaca area attending courses remotely to participate in testing, to protect their own health and the health of residents in Tompkins County.

Those who test positive will not be sanctioned by the college. Don’t let this misconception prevent you from being tested. We are fortunate in the Tompkins County area to have strong partnerships with both the Tompkins County Health Department and Cayuga Health System, and the availability of frequent testing. Let’s make sure we are taking full advantage of these resources.

COVID testing on Ithaca College campus.

Our on-campus testing is administered by the Cayuga Health System and currently occurs on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at the Athletics and Events Center. There is no cost to employees or students for the testing.

Many people who have the virus are asymptomatic. This means that you can be infectious and pass the virus on to others without realizing that you are doing so. To them, it may feel no different than having a minor cold. For others, however, the virus can be quite devastating to their health – resulting in hospitalization or even death. You can’t know by looking at a person what that effect might be. Even people who seem young and healthy can become very sick.

Therefore, it is of critical importance that we use a variety of methods to protect ourselves and one another including wearing a face covering, maintaining six feet of physical distance, and practicing good hand hygiene. Participating in ongoing testing, even when you do not think you are sick, offers another layer of protection for our community.

Committing to testing can be inconvenient, and the nasopharyngeal swab can also be uncomfortable, but this important sacrifice will help us achieve our common goal of reopening for the spring semester.

Christina Moylan, Director of Public Health Emergency Preparedness

As members of a college community, we can potentially have a significant amount of contact with one another. When this occurs, and there is a high level of exposure to other humans, it quickly becomes a “transmission party” for this virus. We have to find a way to balance our interactive and busy lives with a healthy respect for the seriousness of COVID-19.

So, what does this mean? It does not mean we cannot ever have any interaction with one another. It does require that we are extra cautious when we do – using heightened health and safety behaviors even when in small groups or with close friends or family. In addition, we must test frequently.

The community can follow the progress of our testing and outcomes by accessing the COVID Tracking Dashboard. It helps illustrate the contributions of our faculty, staff and students in fighting against this virus, and also how it is impacting our college community.

This spring you can expect that some form of regular surveillance testing will be in place. Since the science on this practice continues to evolve, future tests may not include the nasopharyngeal swabs that we are currently using, but an appropriate scientifically based substitute. We are also exploring other possibilities to add layers of early detection and protection, including wastewater surveillance.

Committing to testing can be inconvenient, and the nasopharyngeal swab can also be uncomfortable, but this important sacrifice will help us achieve our common goal of reopening for the spring semester.

Let’s keep our numbers low, and our spirits high!

Sincerely,

Christina Moylan, Ph.D.
Director of Public Health Emergency Preparedness