Return-to-Waco COVID-19 Testing Instructions (for Students)

Students:

As President Livingstone shared in a previous message to the Baylor community, the University is requiring a negative COVID-19 test of all students before returning to Waco for the Spring 2021 semester, which is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021. Pre-arrival testing and regular testing throughout the semester will open up the potential to host more in-person events and activities in the spring.

You will be glad to know the pre-semester testing process has improved significantly since the fall. Our testing partner, Everlywell, has created a Baylor-specific portal that will allow you to easily order your test kit directly from Everlywell and have it sent to your preferred address.

We ask that you order your test kit IMMEDIATELY so you will have it on hand, BUT it is important to wait to collect your specimen 3 to 5 days BEFORE your return to Waco in January and then send it back on the same day of collection to Everlywell via UPS.

If you live in the Waco area, you need to take and submit your Everlywell test kit between Monday, Jan. 4—Friday, Jan. 8.

6 Simple Steps

To request your COVID-19 test kit, we need you to follow these 6 simple steps:

1. Visit baylor.everlywell.com (link expired).
2. Input the organization invitation code: Provided via email
3. Input your name, date of birth, Baylor email address and your 9-digit Baylor Student ID number.
4. Review the information about the Everlywell COVID-19 Test Home Collection Kit that you will be receiving.
5. Enter your shipping and contact information (where you will be during the holiday break), including your cellphone number. This will allow you to receive text updates on the status of your kit directly from Everlywell.
6. Review the shipping information and place your order.'?'

Due to the holiday season, there may be shipping delays. It is important you order your test kit immediately. Again, please do not take your test until 3 to 5 days before you plan to return to Waco in January.

Please note: Students not attending classes on the Waco campus will receive testing instructions directly from their specific school or program leadership.

Exclusions
If you have tested positive after Oct. 19, you do not need to perform a pre-return test for the spring semester. If you tested positive at an off-campus facility, please email a copy of your positive result, which shows the collection date, along with your name and Baylor ID number, to Health_Services@baylor.edu. If you were tested at the Respiratory Clinic or MyLabsDirect campus testing locations, we already have a record of your positive test.

Ongoing Spring Testing
We ask that you test using the Everlywell kit before returning to Waco and not just to the Baylor campus to prevent the virus' spread in Waco and the surrounding communities. Students should expect to begin regular COVID-19 surveillance testing immediately upon their return to Waco. Additional testing information and instructions will be shared in early January.

Frequently Asked Questions, Call Center Information
Below are the most frequently asked questions about return-to-campus testing. To see additional FAQs related to COVID-19, visit www.baylor.edu/coronavirus/faqs.

If you have questions or issues regarding the test kit, please contact the Everlywell Care Team at 855-463-1670 or covid19@everlywell.com from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday.

If your specific question is not answered in the FAQs or is not related to the test kit, please contact the Baylor Information Call Center at 888-283-2158 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday (excluding Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day). You also may send an email to COVIDtesting@baylor.edu, but please be aware that there may be a slight delay in receiving an email response over the holiday period.

Please continue to monitor your email over the holidays for any breaking news or spring updates related to COVID-19. Thank you for your cooperation, and we look forward to seeing you on campus in the spring.

Sincerely,

The Baylor COVID-19 Health Management Team

Return-to-Waco Testing Frequently Asked Questions

1. What happens if my test kit is damaged, or I haven't received it yet?
Contact the Everlywell Care Team at 855-463-1670 or at covid19@everlywell.com from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday.

2. What address should I ship my kit to?
Students should order kits as soon as possible and have them mailed to the address where they will be during the holiday break. Order the test kit as soon as possible, but DO NOT collect the sample until 3-5 days before planning to return to Waco in January before the spring semester.

3. How long will it take for test results to become available? And how will students be notified of their test results?
As you plan, take your test 3-5 days before your return to Waco in January, you must collect the sample and mail it using a UPS drop box on the same day. Do not collect the sample on the weekend. The sample will be delivered overnight, and the lab should have your results within 48 hours. You will receive notification of your results through email and text.

4. Can I opt-out of COVID-19 testing?
No. The University is requiring all students to take a COVID-19 test and have a negative result before returning to Waco.

COVID-19 testing remains one of the most helpful tools for keeping our campus community safe and healthy, holding on-campus instruction and providing more in-person activities and events. 

5. What if I have already tested positive for COVID-19 and recovered?
If you have tested positive after Oct. 19, you do not need to perform a pre-return test for the spring semester. If your positive test was conducted at an off-campus facility, please email a copy of your positive result, which shows the collection date, along with your name and Baylor ID number, to Health_Services@baylor.edu. If you were tested at the Respiratory Clinic or MyLabsDirect campus testing locations, we already have your positive test record.  If you tested positive before Oct. 19, you must perform the pre-return test.

6. I have recently had a negative COVID test. Do I need to conduct another test using the Baylor-provided COVID-19 test kit?
Yes. You will need to complete another test using the test kit supplied by Baylor.

7. I am an international student. Will I have to take a test, or will I need to self-quarantine when I arrive in Waco?
Please review the information on the Center for Global Engagement website. International students arriving from their international location should contact the International Student and Scholar Services in the Center for Global Engagement at ISSS_Support@Baylor.edu or 254-710-1461 to learn more about quarantine locations.

8. I tested positive, and I feel fine. Can I retest with my healthcare professional to confirm my test results?
No. A positive result with no symptoms most likely represents an asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic infection (false positive tests are uncommon). You should remain home until 10 days after the swab was taken. We do not recommend a second test as it will not change the 10-day isolation period required before returning to campus.

9. What if I test positive and cannot begin in-person classes for 10 days?
You will need to contact your professors by phone or email, informing them you are ill and unable to attend class. Most classrooms are outfitted with lecture-capture or streaming technology so that students in isolation and quarantine can continue progressing academically in an online environment.

Additionally, Baylor has a multidisciplinary team across campus that can help coordinate resources and support for students in isolation or quarantine due to the coronavirus.

10. I received notification that my test results were inconclusive/indeterminate. What do I need to do?
Indeterminate/inconclusive results occur when the lab cannot determine with certainty the presence or absence of the coronavirus after repeat testing. Baylor asks that you retest. However, please seek medical attention if your symptoms have worsened since you first collected your sample.

In the meantime, it may be best for you and everyone else in your household to consider themselves as possibly infected. Measures should be taken to prevent the spread of the virus, including possible self-isolation or self-quarantine.

You can also order a new test from Everlywell if time allows and meets the timeframe outlined above.