A steady stream of UVU students, faculty, staff, and community members lined up at Utah Valley University Wednesday for free COVID-19 tests. The tests were offered in an effort to provide continuing exceptional care to the campus community with the help of the Utah Department of Health and TestUtah.

Wednesday marked the first of two days of free testing in the parking lot by the Clarke Building. On Thursday, testing begins at 9 a.m. Those seeking tests on the first day registered and got in line, either in their cars or at a walk-up testing station.

According to Robin Ebmeyer, UVU director of emergency management and safety, the demand was so high that the 400 available slots per day were bumped to 500.

“We don’t have the ability to test on campus normally, so we reached out to the Utah Department of Health and TestUtah and put this event together so that students and UVU community members could receive free testing. We knew that if we could do testing for free we could get a more clear picture of the situation, and that would help us make more informed decisions in the future,” Ebmeyer said. 

Those who were tested registered at TestUtah.com and listed a contact email. In one to two days, their test results will be sent to that email. If test recipients from the UVU Orem Campus find that they do have COVID-19, they are asked to fill out a self-report form. They will be required to stay home and attend class via livestream and can return to campus after two weeks after testing negative on a second test. A public health investigator will also call that student and ask with whom they have been in contact in an effort to trace cases.

Testing on Thursday is open to anyone who wants to participate, regardless of symptoms, in the parking lot west of the Clarke Building from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Free testing is also available at the Provo Towne Centre mall and Timpanogos Regional Hospital. Utilize authorization code 27110 at TestUtah.com.

“We just want to say thank-you to those people who are trying to be compliant and remind everyone to be cautious. Take the time to consider social and family activities, and be mindful of those around you. We can do this together,” Ebmeyer said.