Employee COVID-19 testing takes place on campus
Delaware State University employees planning to return to work on campus took advantage of COVID-19 testing that took place in Parking Lots 16 and 25 on Sunday, Aug. 9.
To view images from Sunday’s testing event, click on the below link:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/48216028@N03/albums/72157715439580012/show
It was the second such testing event offered to employees, with the first taking place on July 31. During the first testing date, 195 employees were tested, with only two with positive test results for the Coronavirus. Another 195 took the test on Aug. 9; those results are pending.
Employees drove onto the test site through Gate 2 into parking areas used by the Bank of American Building and the Education and Humanities Theatre, were supplied with test kits and under the instruction of volunteers and took the test in their vehicles by swabbing each of their nostrils for 15 seconds each.
The August testing dates were carried out largely by volunteers from the University’s Department of Athletics, and augmented by volunteers from other departments, which included the Office of General Counsel, Institutional Advancement, University Police, Biological Sciences, Information Technology, Facilities, the Health Center, Public and Allied Health Sciences, and the Office of the President.
“I volunteered to assist because I like to help the Hornet community whenever possible and I understand how important testing is for our fall semester and beyond,” said Dawn Hopkins, Director of Annual Giving for Institutional Advancement.
Tamara Stoner, University Secretary and one of the volunteers, said the Department of Athletics committed to supply volunteers for the month of August. “We are thankful for the Department of Athletics’ commitment in August as well as the other campus members who volunteered their time,” she said. “Because testing will continue throughout the fall semester, we need other departments to step up to the plate and become a part of this important work.”
Matt Fortune, Associate Athletic Director for Facilities and Events, it is all about serving the University community.
“It’s our duty as employees of the University to all come together and help get us through this pandemic,” Mr. Fortune said.
Dr Derrick Scott, Assistant Professor of Biological Science, said it was good to get out of the house to assist with the testing event.
“It felt like that we had a purpose in which we were helping the University community,” Dr. Scott said. “It made us feel useful and able to do something good to help people out during these trying times.”
The University has partnered with Testing for America (TFA), which is managing the testing program on campus. The University’s partnership with TFA is projected to result in as many as 7,000 tests conducted weekly on campus once the semester begins.
The next testing sequence will take place during the week of Aug. 17 between the hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, primarily to test incoming students.