Coronavirus News: SUNY's spring semester plan includes mandatory testing for all students
System-wide plan will allow campuses to safely return to in-person instruction for the spring
NEW YORK (WABC) -- New York's public universities released guidance what students need to do to prepare for the spring semester amid the COVID pandemic.
SUNY Chancellor Jim Malatras outlined on Sunday, a system-wide plan that will allow campuses to safely return to in-person instruction for the spring.
Students will need to quarantine at home for a week before school starts and get tested for coronavirus at home or on campus.
RELATED | New New York travel restrictions take effect, NJ and CT stick with advisory
The spring semester will start 10 days later than usual on February 1, and there will be no spring break.
In addition, mask-wearing will be mandatory at all times even with social distancing.
"We've demonstrated this past fall that by implementing an aggressive strategy to manage COVID, students can safely return to campus," Malatras said.
Students who present documentation of a positive COVID test within the last three months are exempt from the return test.
Several SUNY schools had to pause in-person learning this fall after on-campus outbreaks.
RELATED | College sending students home for semester amid rise in COVID cases
According to the university, SUNY schools have the capacity to process approximately 200,000 COVID-19 tests per week, thanks in large part to the FDA-approved saliva test developed by SUNY Upstate Medical University.
MORE CORONAVIRUS COVID-19 COVERAGE
How coronavirus changed the New York region
Do you have coronavirus symptoms?
New York, New Jersey, Connecticut out-of-state travelers quarantine list
COVID-19 Help, Information. Stimulus and Business Updates
UPDATES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on coronavirus
Submit a News Tip
