Update: Current return-to-campus testing and after-travel guidance for faculty and staff
The goal of Purdue’s return-to-campus testing plan is to reduce the risk of introducing COVID-19 from areas outside of Tippecanoe County and our established campus ecosystem.
Thus, the University announced that all West Lafayette students, including all graduate students, need to receive a negative COVID-19 diagnostic test prior to arriving on campus or, if recently tested positive, have documentation from the Protect Purdue Health Center that they have completed a 10-day isolation after the test (asymptomatic) or 10 days after symptom onset prior to arriving on campus.
Return to campus testing for faculty and staff
Faculty or staff who live in Indiana are not required to be tested for COVID-19 before the start of the semester on Aug. 24, as risk of exposure has remained low. Individual departments and units should not mandate testing as part of their return to campus processes.
As per the Protect Purdue Pledge, all faculty and staff should monitor themselves for COVID-19 symptoms and call the Protect Purdue Health Center at 765-496-INFO (press option “1”) if they are experiencing symptoms, especially a body temperature of 100.4 or higher.
Purdue employees who are not experiencing symptoms but would like to be tested for COVID-19 can get tested free of charge at the Turf Recreation Exercise Center (TREC) at 1252 Third St., just west of the Burke Aquatic Center. The Protect Purdue Health Center offers detailed instructions on how to get tested.
Employees who have returned or will be returning to campus after July 31 from travel outside of Indiana due to vacation or other reasons are encouraged to get tested for COVID-19 upon return to West Lafayette. This is important to reduce the risk of introducing COVID-19 from areas with surging cases. Instructions on how to get tested are available here.
Returning out-of-state travelers are also reminded of the Protect Purdue Pledge requirement that they monitor for COVID-19 symptoms, perform daily temperature checks and report any symptoms to the Protect Purdue Health Center at 765-496-INFO (press option “1″).
Traveling during COVID-19
Per the University’s travel guidance for fall 2020, business and personal travel should be postponed or limited as much as possible. When travel is necessary, individuals should take all necessary precautions consistent with the Protect Purdue Pledge. These include wearing masks, especially indoors, practicing social distancing and avoiding large crowds, as well as increasing personal hygiene practices like frequent handwashing.
Individuals returning from out-of-state travel throughout the semester are encouraged to get tested for COVID-19 upon return to West Lafayette following the instructions here.
Ongoing COVID-19 testing throughout the semester
Plans for ongoing COVID-19 testing of faculty and staff during the fall semester are being finalized. These plans will be announced in the near future and will be based on the latest guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as the Indiana State Department of Health. These plans will likely evolve throughout the semester as new information is made available.