COLLEGE STATION, Texas - Students, faculty and staff at all 11 Texas A&M System universities across the state will soon have quick and easy access to free testing for COVID-19, says the university.
According to a release from the university, Chancellor John Sharp recently negotiated an agreement with California-based Curative Inc, a national testing company that has committed to turning around lab results within 30 hours from when the sample arrives at their lab.
“Ensuring the health and safety of our students is our top priority,” said Sharp in the release. “Facilitating increased accessibility and availability of COVID-19 testing will help us mitigate the spread and help to protect each other by taking preventative and proactive measures.”
DOWNLOAD THE FOX 7 AUSTIN NEWS APP FOR YOUR MOBILE DEVICE
This browser does not support the Video element.
School districts look at ‘cohorting’ as way to bring students back
It's an idea that many districts are considering as way to safely get students back in the classroom. FOX Medical Team's Beth Galvin explains what it is.
Approximately 15,000 test kits will be sent to system campuses each month. Each campus will set up a central location for the testing, which will consist of a simple, painless mouth swab. Testing could start as early as late this week.
To date, Curative has released more than 1.2 million test results and is processing 55 to 60 thousand test kits per day with plenty of capacity. A major benefit of the Curative testing system is it being a turn-key operation, offering tests, shipping, processing, and a software system that collects and reports results.
RELATED: Texas A&M University cancels The Big Event 2020 due to coronavirus
Students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to get tested if they experience COVID-19 symptoms, or suspect they have been exposed to someone with COVID-19. Close contact is defined by the CDC as being within six feet of someone with COVID-19 for more than 15 minutes at any time, beginning 48 hours before the individual had symptoms, regardless of wearing a face mask.
While the tests are free, those who have insurance are encouraged to use their primary care physician to access the test so that their test can be paid for by insurance. The on-campus tests will not be available to the general public.
RELATED: Central Texas colleges, universities plan for fall instruction
Each campus will establish an on-line test registration, and anyone wishing to be tested must first sign up there. Trained personnel will monitor the self-administered oral swabbing.
CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST INFO ON THE CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK
___
FOX 7 Austin is working to keep you up to date with coronavirus, with both local and national developments. You can also get the latest COVID-19 news from around the country at coronavirusnow.com.