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UW Adjusts COVID Approach From Containment to Management; Eliminates Mass Testing Requirement

The rapid spread of the Omicron variant — and the need to move from attempting to contain COVID-19 to managing the virus — have prompted changes in the University of Wyoming’s plans for the spring semester. According to a release issued by university officials, instead of requiring all students and employees to be tested for COVID-19 January 12-16, UW will offer voluntary testing for members of the campus community on those days — with plans to resume weekly random-sample testing of three percent of the campus community January 18.
UW President Ed Seidel said there’s already good reason to believe that the virus, particularly the Omicron variant, is widespread at the university as positivity rates are now growing rapidly, and the risk of creating an environment for further transmission at a mass testing event likely would offset information they would gain from it. All students, faculty and staff were scheduled to begin receiving individual emails beginning Friday, directing them to schedule testing appointments between January 12-16. Instead of conducting required tests on those days, UW will offer voluntary testing at the same time and location — 9 am to 12:30 pm in the Crane-Hill Dining Center — for asymptomatic individuals who schedule their testing online at the UW booking site. Under the testing program that resumes January 18, a weekly random sample of three percent of the UW community will receive emails directing them to be tested. This diagnostic testing will take place at the Crane-Hill Dining Center as well. Employees and students can opt out of random-sample testing if they will not be on campus for the week; have been diagnosed with COVID within the last 90 days; or are sick or in quarantine. Voluntary testing will continue to be available as well.
The university will emphasize its current mask requirement for most indoor spaces, including encouragement of more effective masks; continue to strongly encourage vaccination and boosters, which significantly reduce risk of serious illness; and follow Wyoming Department of Health guidance when it comes to quarantine, isolation and staying home when sick. Voluntary testing also is encouraged.
