COVID-19 Update: Testing options and contact tracing

Here is the current information related to university operations and programs. The latest information is available on the UO Coronavirus webpage and FAQ page:

NEW:

  • University of Oregon students in Lane County can be tested for COVID-19 through University Health Services on campus, their regular health care provider, and many testing facilities around town. Lane County Public Health provides information on known testing facilities and community testing. Additional information about where to go for COVID-19 testing and how your costs might be covered is in the Frequently Asked Questions section of the university’s testing page.
  • Contact tracing remains a key component of all efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19. If you are contacted by a contact tracer, you will help protect the community by engaging. Your privacy will be protected, and non-identifiable information will only be shared as necessary for public health.
  • Fifty-six UO students in the Corona Corps are now assisting Lane County Public Health in their contact tracing work and in offering support and services to people with the virus.

REMINDERS: 

  • Students can still pick up COVID Wellness Kits -- which include two facemasks, a thermometer, hand sanitizer and more resources for fall term – at Oregon Hall Monday to Friday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. All undergraduate and graduate students are eligible for one kit each and should bring their UO ID or ID number to pick it up in-person.
  • Two tents are set up on campus to provide extra dining space for students, faculty, and staff. Sanitation stations and Wi-Fi equipment have been installed and face coverings are required when not eating.
  • The Dean of Students office is investigating every report it receives that a student or student organization may have violated the UO Student Conduct Code or COVID-19 related health and safety precautions. Student conduct action may be initiated and could result in administrative sanctions up to and including suspension or expulsion. To learn more, visit our FAQs on behavior expectation
  • You can reduce your risk of contracting COVID-19 by limiting the number of people with whom you are in close contact. Take the following precautions:
    • Keep groups small and limited to only people you know.
    • Wear masks or cloth face coverings.
    • Remember that exposure is defined as being within six feet of another for 15 minutes.
    • Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer after touching common surfaces.
    • Don’t share drinks, vapes, or utensils.
  • Students and employees who have tested positive or think they have been exposed to COVID-19 are encouraged to review the COVID-19 exposure scenarios and guidance for students and employees and contact the Corona Corps Care Team at 541-346-2292 or careteam@uoregon.edu
    for additional guidance and resources.

RESOURCES:

GENERAL INFORMATION:

  • A hundred forty members of the UO community tested positive or were considered presumptive positive last week (October 5 through 11). A total of 348 members of the UO community have tested positive for COVID-19 since reporting began. Additional information about known cases within the UO Community is available on the coronavirus case page, which is updated by 10 a.m. Monday through Friday.
  • The Oregon Health Authority reports 37,467 confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases in the state, 1,830 cases in Lane County, 8,041 in Multnomah County, and 196 in Coos County on October 12.
  • The university continues to work in close coordination with the Oregon Health Authority and our companion institutions and agencies. Additional resources are available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Oregon Health Authority, and your health care provider.
  • As a reminder, the best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to the virus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention outline some general precautions to minimize the spread of respiratory diseases. 

The UO is providing biweekly COVID-19 updates, on Mondays and Thursdays. Urgent information will be shared through direct emails.