Thousands of Ohio State students successfully complete COVID-19 testing
University begins spring semester with enhanced health measures in place
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Chris Booker Ohio State News 614.292.7276 |
A busy weekend at The Ohio State University preceded the first day of spring semester. Thousands of students moved back onto the Columbus and regional campuses Saturday and Sunday under enhanced health and safety protocols.
On the Columbus campus, about 10,600 students completed a required COVID-19 antigen test before moving into a residence hall. The university organized a massive rapid test operation as part of the health protocols for spring semester 2022.
Students were tested at French Field House during pre-scheduled move-in periods. Students on regional campuses completed rapid tests with an online proctor.
About 3.2% of students on the Columbus campus were required to isolate after reporting positive tests; the remainder were permitted to move into their university residence halls for the beginning of spring semester. University officials said the positivity rate from move-in testing should not be compared to the weekly testing data posted on the university’s COVID-19 dashboard because of differences in type of test, testing protocol and population.
President Kristina M. Johnson greeted students and staff at the testing location this weekend to applaud their commitment to health and safety.
“I am always proud of how our university community thrives in the face of challenges. Evidence of that is found in the daily perseverance of our health care providers, the unrelenting discoveries of our scholars and the incredible success of our graduates,” Johnson wrote in a letter to the campus community today. “Even during the pandemic, each graduating class continues to be more astounding than the last — raising the bar ever higher for those who follow. If these Buckeyes can do it, so can all of us.”
In addition to the pre-semester testing, the following groups will be required to complete weekly PCR testing at this time, with the first test to be completed by the end of Friday, Jan. 14:
- All students living in university housing on all campuses, regardless of vaccination status.
- All student members of social sororities and fraternities, regardless of vaccination status.
- All students and employees who have an approved exemption for the university’s vaccination requirement.
- All students and employees who have taken no action on the university’s vaccination requirement.
Students can learn more at the testing page for information about scheduling:
