As we look toward the end of in-person learning on Nov. 20, we write to let you know how to coordinate your COVID-19 testing with moving off campus. Our goals for testing are to keep you and our campus community safe and to make sure everyone travels to their destinations as safely as possible.

In the next few weeks, please review CDC guidelines related to safe travel during this global pandemic and CDC recommendations about post-travel precautions. It is your responsibility to research and uphold all relevant local requirements once you arrive at your final destination. If you are returning to a household where people who are more vulnerable to COVID-19 live, take extra precautions. Your careful actions as you transition out of Saratoga Springs can protect people you love.

As always, we remind you that testing is one moment in time. A negative test is not a prediction or guarantee of future safety, and it does not negate the need to observe all safety measures. Mask wearing, social distancing and regular handwashing continue to be crucial for all of us at all times.

Please carefully review these guidelines for the last round of testing:

• Students must be tested no more than 7 days prior to leaving campus.
• Students must have negative test results prior to leaving campus.
• Students should not travel while waiting for a test result.

Leaving without a negative test result in hand would be a serious violation of our student COVID-19 conduct code, since that could potentially put others at risk. As always, all positive test results from Skidmore’s surveillance testing must be reported to Saratoga County Public Health. Individuals who test positive for COVID-19 prior to Nov. 21 will need to be in isolation for a minimum of 10 days prior to leaving the area.

With these goals and guidelines in mind, please observe the following testing schedule:

• If you are leaving campus on Nov. 16, 17 or 18, you should get tested on either Friday, Nov. 13, or Saturday, Nov. 14.
• If you are leaving campus on Nov. 19 or 20, you should get tested on Sunday, Nov. 15.
• All students living off campus should get tested on either Friday, Nov. 13, Saturday, Nov. 14, or Sunday, Nov. 15.
• If you are staying on campus past Nov. 23, you should get tested on Friday, Nov. 13, and Friday, Nov. 20.

Friday, Nov. 20, will be the last day of testing at Skidmore’s testing tent. On that date, we will only be testing students who are authorized to remain in campus housing past Nov. 23. If you have specific and extenuating circumstances that would require you to be tested on Friday, Nov. 20, please contact us at health@skidmore.edu so we can review your situation.

Once you have left campus, you must change your CoVerified status to "remote." Changing your status to remote means you no longer need to submit your daily symptom monitoring.

Be well, be careful, be safe.

Sincerely,
Health Services