UNMC faculty, staff and students on the Omaha campus may register now for a free COVID-19 test prior to winter break and the holiday season. Moreover, faculty, staff and students on the Lincoln, Kearney, Norfolk and Scottsbluff campuses may now also obtain such testing.
Tests, designed for individuals who are not experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19 and who have never had a positive test in the past, will take place in the Center for Healthy Living gymnasium on UNMC’s Omaha campus from 8 a.m. to noon on Dec 14, 15, 16 and 17. (Individuals who have tested positive in the past may continue to test positive for some time after recovery; in general, these individuals are not contagious and do not require re-testing.)
Participants are asked to:
- Register online for a timeslot (Faculty, staff and students must register in advance to reserve a time slot and ensure adequate numbers of test kits are available).
- Bring their ID badge.
- Follow campus safety protocols of wearing a mask, social distancing and self-screening with the 1-Check app prior to entrance. Individuals who are experiencing symptoms consistent with possible COVID infection (fever, cough, difficulty breathing, loss of sense of smell or taste), should not be tested at this site. Instead, go home, self-isolate, and contact the Student Health (402-559-7204) or Employee Health (402-552-3563) Clinic, as applicable, for further guidance and testing.
A nose swab process will be used instead of the more intrusive deep nasopharyngeal test. Individuals will have the option of swabbing their own noses or having testing clinic personnel perform the swabbing.
As was the case at Thanksgiving, we are especially encouraging those who plan to leave town to gather with family to get screened. Individuals will obtain their results within 48 hours and, assuming they test negative, can enjoy the holiday season with some peace of mind.
With that said, a negative test is not a free pass to disregard public health protocols. A negative COVID-19 test is but a snapshot in time and is not representative of the hours and days that follow. Individuals should continue to wear a face mask, social distance, limit crowds, self-screen with the 1-Check app and wash their hands frequently.
Individuals who test positive should contact Student Health or Employee Health for further guidance, including how best to self-isolate so as not to further transmit the virus. Students who test positive may arrange for food deliveries through the UNMC/UNO Food Pantry.
The on-campus testing is made possible by members of the Nebraska Public Health Laboratory and volunteers from the UNMC Colleges of Nursing and Pharmacy, as well as the Biocontainment Unit. At any time, individuals also may be tested at any of the testing centers in the region or throughout the state.
Free testing is also available on UNMC’s other campuses as follows:
In Lincoln, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln operates two testing sites that are open to UNMC students, staff, and faculty. Appointments are required and may be scheduled here.
In Kearney, the University of Nebraska at Kearney operates a testing site that is open to UNMC students, staff, and faculty. Appointments are required and may be scheduled via e-mail.
In Norfolk, testing is available through Test Nebraska, which now offers free service in Norfolk four days a week. Appointments are required and may be scheduled here.
In Scottsbluff, testing is available through Test Nebraska, which now offers free service in Scottsbluff three days a week. Appointments are required and may be scheduled here.
Finally, students, staff and faculty from any campus are welcome to sign up for testing at any of the other campuses. Those willing to come to Omaha from other campuses, for example, are welcome to sign up for slots at the Omaha campus event.