PATH TO THE BLUFF | LMU’s dedicated COVID-19 testing center, launched on a voluntary basis on Nov. 30, 2020, has successfully scaled to full operation with the start of the spring semester. After testing 1,300 individuals during December, the center processed more than 1,125 tests just the week of Jan. 4-9. With mandatory testing schedules implemented for individuals with frequent campus access, the testing center anticipates an average of 250-450 individuals each day during the spring semester.
“There was a lot of detail that went into getting the center up and running. Guidelines are constantly changing, so there are always moving parts,” explained Kathryn Turner, assistant director of Conference Services, who manages the COVID testing team. “But maintaining safety for our campus community was and always is our priority in every decision made, and we’re off to a great start. The process moves very quickly, considering the amount of samples we’re processing each day, and we’re very pleased with the systematic flow we’ve established.”
Trevor Wiseman, associate vice president for Administration shared, “Our goal was to establish a testing center that was safe, convenient, and reliable for the LMU community. Kat and her team, with James Venegas and Madison Hernandez-Barber, as well as the amazing team in Student Health Services, have made that a reality.”
At this time, the on-campus testing center is only for individuals approved for campus access who are part of a regular testing group. Any individual approved for campus access with symptoms of COVID-19 or who were exposed to someone with COVID-19 cannot be tested at the center – rather, they must self-isolate immediately and contact the COVID Support Team at COVIDSupportTeam@lmu.edu or 310.568.6868 for further assistance. COVID Support is available 7 days a week and will coordinate targeted testing and provide guidance for those who may have COVID-19.
To learn more about the center, please visit the On-Campus COVID Testing Center webpage. Additionally, individuals may also email covidtesting@lmu.edu for further information.
