According to Winthrop University’s COVID-19 Dashboard displayed at winthrop.edu, as of Nov. 14, there have been four positive cases amongst students since Nov. 2, one positive case amongst employees since Nov. 2, and there have been 45 positive cumulative cases since March 16.
Due to an expected surge in COVID-19 spreading during the winter months, Winthrop is considering the decision to perform surveillance testing during the 2021 semesters. Surveillance testing for COVID-19 would entail testing random samples of the Winthrop population at various times throughout the year in order to better monitor the spread of the virus on campus.
The decision has already been made to require COVID-19 testing for all on-campus residents next semester, but the decision to test any further has not been made.
“When they come back in the spring, we’re asking the students [who live on campus] to provide proof that they have been tested and tested negative 72 hours before they arrived here on campus and we will be asking them on top of that, to kind of self-quarantine for a couple of days before they come to campus,” said Winthrop’s Interim President George Hynd at a board of trustees meeting on Nov. 6.
“Jackie Concodora, director of counseling services, has been working with DHEC so that as we move into the spring semester, we’ll be able to do some surveillance testing which at this point in time, we have not been able to do both because of the availability of resources financially, but also, just in terms of personnel, we think we’ll be able to do that in the spring semester, so we can continue to monitor the health of faculty, staff and students on campus,” Hynd said.
While some appreciate the extra security mandatory testing for on-campus residents and the potential for surveillance testing provides, others feel as though performing numerous tests could get out of hand.
“I, of course, would not be angry or upset in any way if Winthrop did decide to mandate regular testing but I, personally, think that mandating testing like that can get out of hand or can be unnecessary,” said Carolina Sewell, a freshman integrated
marketing communication major.
“For example, I am from Texas and I have several friends that go to Baylor University in Waco, Texas and they do a lot of testing and one of my friends had to get tested three times in one week at one point and she tested negative every time. I know there are many pros to mandating testing, but I just think that since there has not been a lot of COVID at Winthrop as of now, that required testing is unnecessary.”
After closely monitoring COVID-19 data across the country throughout the holiday season, Winthrop will decide whether surveillance testing is necessary.
“Testing feasibility varies greatly per institution. Winthrop is very fortunate to have a community testing site at the Coliseum five days per week through a DHEC contracted provider,” Concodora said. “Administration has not made a decision about surveillance testing for spring.”
Photo by Olivia Esselman
