Testing on Campus
Salve Regina has contracted with the Broad Institute to offer both asymptomatic and symptomatic testing on campus. The University is administering PCR tests, which are considered to be the most accurate and reliable method. Results are typically available in 24-48 hours.
All undergraduate students are strongly encouraged to utilize the University's testing program so that we can provide resources and track data. If you are confirmed positive outside of Salve Regina's testing program, please provide notification to coronavirus@salve.edu so that contact identification can be implemented immediately.
Asymptomatic Testing
Asymptomatic surveillance testing is part of a layered approach to protecting the health and safety of our campus community. Throughout the spring semester, Salve Regina is administering up to 1,100 tests each week through our asymptomatic surveillance testing program. Undergraduate students will be tested at least once every two weeks. Testing is conducted on a random sample of the campus population based on the results of our daily Salve-Health screenings.
Participation in surveillance testing is mandatory as required by the Rhode Island Department of Health. Students who do not comply with testing requirements will be referred to the Dean of Students Office for formal conduct action.
Testing is conducted between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Sunday through Thursday in Gerety Hall, Room 103. When you are selected for testing, you will receive an email from the COVID-19 Central Oversight Unit with the date you must report to the testing site. Please make every effort to report for testing on your scheduled date.
Symptomatic Testing
While COVID-19 affects people in different ways, symptoms may include:
- Fever or chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- New loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
Undergraduate students who are experiencing symptoms should make an appointment for evaluation and testing as soon as possible. During business hours (9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday), call Health Services at (401) 341-2904. Outside of business hours and on weekends, call the Office of Safety and Security at (401) 341-2325.
All symptomatic evaluations and testing will take place at the respiratory clinic located at 51 Shepard Ave. Students who need immediate attention may be transported to Newport Hospital.
Graduate students and employees who are symptomatic and want to be tested should contact their primary health care provider or a local clinic.
On-Demand Testing
While Salve Regina is not offering on-demand testing at this time, both PCR and rapid testing are widely available in Rhode Island. Local testing sites include:
- Stop & Shop, 199 Connell Highway – PCR testing, available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday by appointment only
- East Bay Health Care, 6 John H. Chafee Blvd. – PCR and rapid testing, available from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday by appointment only
- Park Holm Senior Center, 1 Eisenhower St. – Rapid testing, available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, no appointment necessary
- Knights of Columbus, 7 Valley Road, Middletown – PCR and rapid testing, available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, appointment required for PCR testing
To schedule an appointment or locate additional testing sites, visit the Rhode Island Department of Health website.
Test Results
You will be notified of negative test results via email from CareEvolve. You will receive two emails from CareEvolve – the first to establish your account and the second to log in for your test results. When prompted, enter the address as 100 Ochre Point Ave., Newport, RI 02840 to access your results.
Individuals testing positive will be notified by Health Services staff.
Health Screening Survey
A daily symptom check is critical to maintaining the health and safety of the Salve Regina community. All students who are attending in-person classes, along with faculty and staff, are expected to complete the Salve-Health screening survey daily. Anyone who intends to be on campus should be sure to complete the survey before leaving their residence. Even if you are not coming to campus, the University needs to know who will be on campus and when for potential tracking purposes. Activities are still scheduled on weekends, so the survey needs to be completed on Saturday and Sunday as well.
Students who are fully remote for the spring semester do not need to complete the screening survey and may opt out of daily notifications.
The survey contains questions related to coronavirus symptoms and other risk factors. After submitting the survey, you will be advised about your eligibility to come to campus. Should you indicate that you have symptoms or other risk factors, you will receive a follow-up communication with next steps. Please respond to any follow-up communications within a two-hour window.
The Salve-Health screening survey is administered through Rave Guardian, which is the same system that transmits alerts during campus emergencies or severe weather and allows students to report issues on campus or have a virtual escort when traveling alone.
Students, faculty and staff receive survey notifications in three ways, and may choose the method that is best for them to complete the survey.
- Rave Guardian app alert. To download the app, visit the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Once you have installed the app, log in with your mobile phone number to receive the code to confirm via text message.
- Text to your mobile phone number. To update or verify your mobile phone number, log in to the portal and click My Salve > User Options > User Profile. In the Phone Numbers section, you can add to or edit the current information.
- Email to your Salve Regina address. If you want to receive the survey through email alerts on your smartphone but your email is not connected to your phone, visit Tech Tips and FAQ for instructions.
Survey notifications are sent at 4:30 a.m. daily. This is early, but the survey has to serve all members of the community, including those who work early shifts, to ensure that essential operations are up and running prior to the start of classes each day.
If you are planning to attend or teach in-person classes and participate in campus programming but are not receiving the daily screening survey, please email coronavirus@salve.edu for further instructions prior to traveling to campus or leaving your campus residence.