This email was sent to all Duke University faculty and staff members

Dear Duke University Faculty and Staff Members,

Next week Duke’s campus will begin to see increased activity again as faculty, staff and students start returning from the holiday break. As a means of helping identify asymptomatic cases of COVID-19 and reducing the potential for outbreaks on campus, we will resume surveillance testing for the spring semester on Wednesday, Jan. 6.

Faculty and staff who will report on-site regularly as part of their work responsibilities have been identified by their schools and department and have the opportunity to participate in surveillance testing each week. These individuals will also receive reminders each week about participating in surveillance testing.

Anyone who regularly reports on-site each week as part of their work responsibilities who does not receive a notification about surveillance testing by Jan. 6, 2021, can request to be included by completing a brief online form.

The location and operating hours for testing sites can be found on the Duke United website, which also includes instructions, FAQs and videos about the process and what to expect. The self-administered process should take about 5 minutes, and collection sites will be established in multiple locations on East and West campuses and the Washington Duke Inn for convenience. Participants should arrive at the test site with their DukeCard ID or mobile device with the SymMon app to register for a test kit.

Results from tests typically take about 48 hours. You will only be contacted if the results are positive for COVID-19, at which point you will receive further medical guidance and support.

During the holidays, the number of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in North Carolina have risen to their highest levels since the beginning of the pandemic. Surveillance testing is an important strategy to help limit the spread of the virus, but we also encourage everyone, whether working on-site or remotely, to continue to monitor your symptoms on a daily basis, limit travel, keep at least 6 feet of distance from others, and wear a mask to protect yourself and others. These collective efforts remain our best defense against the virus as we look toward brighter days ahead with the distribution of the vaccines, which will take several months to complete.

Kyle Cavanaugh,
Vice President, Administration