End of Semester COVID Travel Guidance and Testing Options
Dear LC Students:
Congratulations on making it until the end of the semester! My staff and I send our sincere best wishes that finals go well for you.
Many of you will be traveling at the end of this semester. My staff and I want you to arrive at your destination safely, with minimal chance of you contracting COVID or spreading it to others. Here is the latest information about travel and testing in these COVID times:
Masking Requirements and Safe Travel
Before you travel, visit this webpage for the latest guidance about how to travel safely, both internationally and domestically. Many public transportation systems have lifted the mask requirement. However, note that the CDC continues to recommend that people wear masks in indoor public transportation settings. Masks continue to be an effective way of reducing your vulnerability to infection, and to reduce the chance that you might spread the virus to others. If anyone needs a KN-95 mask to support safe travel at the end of the school year, please email covid19info@lclark.edu.
When Not to Travel
If you develop COVID symptoms prior to your planned departure, do not travel. Self-isolate and seek medical consultation. Please be aware that a single negative antigen test is not sufficient to rule out COVID in a person who has COVID symptoms. If you have COVID symptoms, contact the Health Service at 503-768-7165 for testing. Health Service staff can provide COVID testing that is more sensitive than antigen tests. If you cannot access health consultation and wish to use antigen tests, you should first self-isolate for 24 hours, and then take your first antigen test. If it is negative, you should wait 36 hours and then take a second antigen test before deciding whether it’s safe to travel.
Vaccination
If you are one of our few students who have only recently become eligible for your booster dose, we encourage you to get that dose before you travel. Vaccination continues to be our most effective means of reducing infection.
Testing
If you will be traveling internationally over the break, you may need COVID testing prior to your travels. If you need this service, please contact the Health Service (503-768-7165) as soon as possible and definitely before May 2. The Health Service will be closing for the summer at 3 p.m. on Friday, May 6. We have a limited number of appointment slots for molecular rapid testing and pcr testing before May 4, specifically for students who need COVID testing prior to international travel. We can also offer referrals to community testing locations.
Also, if you will be engaging with individuals who are at elevated risk of severe disease from COVID during the break, you should consider taking an antigen test before you engage those people. If you need antigen tests for this purpose, we have rapid at-home antigen tests available for purchase in the Health Promotion suite in lower Odell Hall on the undergraduate campus. For the rest of this semester, we are able to offer those tests to students for $6 each. The fee will be assessed to your student account, so no need for you to bring cash or check. The suite is generally open from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1 to 5 p.m. on weekdays. Bring your ID to swipe into the building.
If you have any questions about the above information, please contact us at covid19info@lclark.edu.
May you all have a healthy, safe, and restful summer!
John Hancock, EdD
Associate Dean of Students for Health & Wellness
