College of Charleston President Andrew T. Hsu shared the following message with the campus community about the institution’s first random testing event for COVID-19 this Thursday, Sept. 24, 2020:ย 

Dear Campus Community,ย 

As you know, we are conducting our first FREE random testing event for COVID-19 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. tomorrow on George Street in front of the Stern Student Center.

Thank you to those of you who have already signed up for an appointment or who have let us know that they are not able to participate.

Unfortunately, we have not yet reached the minimum number of volunteers required for this testing event to provide a meaningful sample of the campus community. Therefore, we have decided to open the sign-up portal for tomorrowโ€™s testing event to any student, faculty or staff member who would like to be tested, with some exceptions.

You can schedule a testing appointment for tomorrowโ€™s event at the following link: https://square.site/book/LXRET9AD52B30/college-of-charleston-covid-testing-charleston-scย 

Please read the following exceptions before signing up for a testing appointment:

1.ย  Do NOT attend or schedule an appointment if you are symptomatic for COVID-19.

2.ย  Students living outside of the Lowcountry area and/or those students not coming to campus should not sign up for testing.

3.ย  Faculty and staff living outside of the Lowcountry area and/or those faculty and staff not coming to campus should not sign up for testing.

4.ย  Students, faculty and staff with a recent positive should not be retested as the result may remain positive even outside of the 10-day isolation period although the individual is no longer capable of spreading the virus.ย 

Appointments are available on a first-come, first-served basis for the first 350 respondents, and the sign-up portal will not accept appointments once we have reached this number.ย ย 

The testing event is being conducted in partnership with the Medical University of South Carolina. Those who come for this FREE testing will receive both a nasal swab (PCR) test and a saliva test.

If you sign up for testing, please remember to use a local address and bring to or do the following at the testing site:

  • College IDย 
  • Driverโ€™s License or State IDย 
  • Insurance Cardย 
  • Email Addressย 
  • Wear a Maskย 
  • Practice Social Distancingย 
  • Sign HIPAA Statement at the Testing Site (This signed statement allows MUSC to securely communicate with the selected officials at the College of Charleston. If anyone refuses to sign the statement, they will not be offered a test.)ย 

Testing results will be sent to you via MyChart. Individuals will be sent an email to activate their MyChart account. It is imperative to provide MUSC Health with a valid email address. This email will only be used to deliver the MyChart activation link. The College of Charleston will also receive a report with test results for each person tested. However, in some cases, those tested may be the first to receive their results.ย ย ย ย 

While the random testing is entirely voluntary, I do want to encourage you to consider taking part. In order to remain on campus this semester, it is imperative that we constantly monitor the health of our campus community and be prepared to quickly respond to any upticks in positive cases. Conducting random testing of students and employees provides the College with invaluable data about the presence of the virus within our campus community.

Please consider doing your part to keep our campus and community safe!

Sincerely,ย 

Andrewย 

Andrew T.ย Hsu,ย Ph.D.
President
College of Charleston

George Street will be closed to vehicle traffic from Glebe Street to Coming Street from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sept. 24. Beginning at 10:30 a.m. until testing concludes at approximately 4 p.m., the street will be closed to pedestrian traffic.

Access to the testing site will be limited to MUSC staff, CofC volunteers and anyone being tested. Pedestrian traffic will be allowed to cross George Street to College Way to access campus.

Surrounding buildings affected by the street closure need to adjust entry and exit points during this timeframe:

  • RITA Hollings Science Center โ€“ no exit to George Street
  • Stern Student Center โ€“ entry and exit from Glebe Street
  • English Faculty House (74 George Street) โ€“ access from back entrance
  • English Faculty House (72 George Street) โ€“ access from College Way