As of Thursday mandatory testing for students , faculty and staff will start the week of Sept. 13.
Testing will be available from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to noon on Fridays.
A negative test will be reported on the CitrusMobile pre-screening app, and positive tests will prohibit someone from returning to campus for at least 10 days,
or until a negative test is taken.
On Aug. 31, Citrus College sent an email to staff and students regarding updated COVID-19 precautions, including mandatory testing for everyone on campus.
The email said once a week, students are required to take a rapid COVID-19 test the entire fall semester and that more information will be sent out on when and where to go for testing.
Staff and faculty will have the option of taking self-testing kits or going to a local clinic.
The message was sent a week after the semester started, after students had already begun taking on-campus classes, not privy to the new testing mandate.
Before the semester, Citrus implemented a voluntary testing program for all employees and students, but has now made it mandatory.
Director of Human Resources Robert Sammis said testing will take place in the Haugh performing arts lobby and “students should expect later in this week to get a notice.”
He said the college is going to start the testing program for employees this week and hopefully have tests ready for students when they return from Labor day weekend. The tests are minimally invasive and free of cost.
“Given the continuing high level of cases in LA County of coronavirus and the spread of the Delta variant, as part of our line of defense to keep as many cases off-campus as possible, we determined that it made sense to go ahead and do mandatory testing,” Sammis said.
Students participating in athletics have been taking COVID-19 tests before it became mandatory and will continue to adhere to their current procedures.
Sammis said he has received nothing but positive feedback from this new health initiative considering many people are in favor of weekly testing and even a vaccine mandate.
The mandate only applies to students who are taking classes or participating in activities on campus. Students who are visiting places like the library or the student services building do not need to get tested, but will need to take their daily pre-screening via the CitrusMobile app.
People who fail to take the tests will not be permitted on campus.
