Editor's Note: This article has been updated with information from a Nov. 19 email.
The Office of Campus Life released guidelines for travel and coronavirus testing in preparation for the upcoming Thanksgiving break in an email to students Nov. 8.
In an email to the student body on Thursday, the Office of Campus Life announced there would be no on-campus COVID-19 testing on Nov. 24 or during the upcoming Thanksgiving break.
The last available day for testing will be Nov. 23 and will resume on Nov. 29. The testing hours have also been extended to 8 a.m.-6 p.m. from Monday to Friday.
For vaccinated students leaving the D.C., Maryland and Virginia area, American University is recommending students to get tested for COVID-19 three to five days prior to departure and again three to five days after arriving back on campus.
For unvaccinated community members, the University reminded students that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention still requires a seven-day quarantine upon return, and the University recommends a test three to five days following the end of isolation. The email also said that students who have vaccination exemptions will receive communication soon regarding additional requirements.
The email also said that any students who test positive are prohibited from traveling and required to remain in isolation until their quarantine period is over as required by the CDC. If a student is to test positive on campus, they will still be required to move to isolation housing.
The University also provided students with tips for safely celebrating the holidays, such as hosting celebrations outdoors and wearing a mask in crowded settings.
Last fall, the University asked community members to report any holiday travel, as the district required a negative test result both 72 hours before traveling to D.C. and within five days of arrival.
Currently, American University’s vaccination policy requires that all students be vaccinated against the coronavirus with special exemptions granted to students for religious or medical reasons. Although vaccinated students are not required to be regularly tested for COVID-19, free testing is available at Constitution Hall on East Campus during weekdays.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
