COVID-19 Update: Move-In Testing

August 10, 2021

Dear Saint Louis University community members, 

We are eager to welcome you to campus later this month.

We had hoped for a more normal fall semester. But the spread of the COVID-19 Delta variant has required us to wear face masks once again. Thankfully, social distancing is no longer necessary. 

The Delta variant is much more transmissible and more likely to result in severe disease compared to the wild-type COVID-19 strain that caused infections and deaths during much of the pandemic.

Unfortunately, St. Louis is experiencing very high infection and hospitalization rates just as we are preparing our campus for fall. In order to help quell community spread of the Delta variant, the St. Louis City Health Department has implemented a mask mandate until further notice. 

Move-in begins on Wednesday, August 18, and runs through Sunday, August 22. You and all members of your move-in team must wear face masks inside all University buildings, including your residence hall or apartment building. Your face mask must cover your mouth and nose. A face shield is not a substitute for a face mask. 

If you’re a residential student, you should have been informed of your scheduled move-in window by Housing and Residence Life. The information also can be found here.

Being healthy and fully vaccinated will expedite your move. Please be sure you have uploaded your proof of full vaccination or proof of your first dose to our online portal, or that you have an approved vaccine exemption from SLU. 

For Residential and Off-Campus Students 

If you are fully vaccinated and you are not exhibiting any COVID-19 symptoms:

• There is no need for you to be tested prior to your departure from your hometown, unless you are traveling from outside the United States. 

• Optional COVID-19 testing will be available in Simon Recreation Center during move-in. 

For Residential Students 

If you have an approved vaccine exemption — meaning you are unvaccinated — or if you are not fully vaccinated, and you are not exhibiting any COVID-19 symptoms:

• You are required to be tested for COVID-19 within 72 hours prior to move-in day. You will be shipped a saliva PCR test kit so that you can test yourself at home prior to coming to campus. 
• Test kit instructions will review how to provide and properly seal your saliva sample. Please drop off the sample return box at a FedEx location the same day you provide your saliva sample or contact FedEx to schedule a pick-up. Samples cannot be shipped on Sundays.

• You also may choose to be tested at a community testing site of your choice instead of using the home test kit, but it must be a PCR test and it must be collected within 72 hours of your arrival on campus. You can find a community test site by using this tool. 

• If you arrive on campus without proof of a negative COVID-19 test completed in the past 72 hours or without having submitted your saliva sample for the home test kit, you are required to be tested in Simon Rec prior to your move-in. Please note your move-in could be delayed by long wait times for testing. You will not need to quarantine while waiting for your test results.
• If you are not fully vaccinated, please schedule a time to get your second dose of either the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine at one of our clinics in Simon Rec. 

• Information about testing for international students is forthcoming and will come from the Office of International Services. 

If you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms on move-in day:

• Please do not come to campus if you are ill, even if your symptoms are mild and even if you are vaccinated. Symptoms similar to those of a common cold may actually be COVID-19.

• If you feel ill, contact your licensed medical provider or Student Health at 314-977-2323 before you travel to our St. Louis campuses. They will let you know if you require testing before coming to campus.  

Regardless of vaccination status, if you test positive for COVID-19 and you live in on-campus housing, you are required to move into isolation housing for at least 10 days, or to move back home for that same time period.

As always, if you have any questions, please email us at pandemic@slu.edu. 

Stay safe and be well,

Terri Rebmann, Ph.D., RN, CIC, FAPIC
Special Assistant to the President
Director, Institute for Biosecurity
Professor, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics
College for Public Health and Social Justice