In response to a mandate by West Virginia Governor Jim Justice, Fairmont State University launched a campus wide COVID-19 Surveillance Testing program on Monday, October 12. The program was introduced as a phased initiative, with Phase II beginning Monday, October 19 and continuing through the remainder of the fall semester. 

Week three of the Surveillance Testing initiative was implemented October 26 – 28, encompassing a stratified sample of students and employees. Saliva-based tests were self-administered by 10% of the on-campus population. 

The Surveillance Testing program is a part of the University’s multi-pronged strategy to mitigate and monitor the spread of COVID-19. This testing initiative allows the University to monitor and address real-time trends and prevalence and make timely decisions on intervention and response.  

The majority of week three surveillance testing results have been returned, with no COVID-19 positive cases identified. In addition, one positive case has been identified through an off-campus testing site. Forty-two individuals have now recovered since the University began reporting data in late August. 

All students who tested positive are monitored by the COVID Task Force and COVID Student Liaison. The University continues to work with the Marion County Health Department to complete investigations and contact tracing for positive cases connected with Fairmont State.

Results will continue to be shared on the University’s dashboard. To learn more about Fairmont State surveillance testing processes, visit fairmontstate.edu/coronavirus/surveillance-testing-program.