September 7, 2020

Dear students, faculty, and staff:

Please read carefully. This is an important and urgent message regarding COVID-19 testing on campus.

Last week we started the COVID-19 surveillance testing of students and staff who live on campus, as well as staff who assisted with the move-in process. The tests conducted on Tuesday and Thursday all yielded negative results. Due to the holiday weekend, the vendor we are working with used a second lab to conduct the lab work on samples collected on Friday. Unfortunately, the lab has determined that all the results from Friday's tests must be called inconclusive due to an issue identified with the lab test controls. Out of the inconclusive results, one appears to be preliminary positive, so the college is treating that case as a positive. The person who may be positive has been contacted and is in isolation.

We know the news of the inconclusive results and the preliminary positive case is concerning. Out of caution, all persons tested on Friday will need to be re-tested tomorrow, September 8. Additionally, we have opened up testing slots tomorrow for any student, faculty, or staff who has had in-person contact with any Reed community member this past week and feels they have a reason to be retested.

What time should you show up for your Tuesday, September 8 COVID-19 test?

• All students who were tested on Friday should show up on tomorrow at their regularly scheduled Tuesday testing time.
• All other students, faculty, and staff who wish to be tested tomorrow can sign up here.

Type of test: The test conducted will be a PCR saliva test. We estimate the entire specimen collection process should take less than 15 minutes.

Location: Gray Campus Center (GCC) patio.

What to bring: Bring your Reed ID.

Important: Do not eat, drink, smoke, or chew gum for at least 30 minutes before your saliva test. If you are currently experiencing symptoms of Coronavirus, do not show up for the saliva testing. Instead, please follow the following directions.

• Students: Whether you live on or off campus, if you have COVID-like symptoms or suspect that you have been exposed to a person with COVID-19, stay in your place of residence and call the Health & Counseling Center.
• Faculty and staff: Contact human resources to report COVID-like symptoms or exposure to someone with COVID-19. HR will call you to provide support and next steps.

Results: Only those who test positive will be notified of their test results.

Thank you for your attention.

Sincerely,
Mandy Heaton
On behalf of the COVID-19 Risk Assessment Team