MADISON, Wis. — UW-Madison says students and employees who are not vaccinated from COVID-19 will have to take weekly tests on campus, and the school will begin offering a third dose of the vaccine to immunocompromised students next week.
The announcement was made by Chancellor Rebecca Blank in an e-mail to students and staff Wednesday.
While the university is not requiring vaccination, Blank says those who do not get vaccinated or have not shared proof of their vaccination with the university will need to get tested every week, effective August 30. Those who do not submit to the weekly testing will be held “accountable.”
“As the university has done throughout the pandemic, we’re adapting our approach as needed to respond to changes in COVID-19 activity,” Blank said. “The continuing high rate of infection due to the delta variant makes this expanded testing requirement necessary.”
According to the university, about 89% of UW-Madison employees are vaccinated, and they expect about 80% or more of students attending this fall will also be vaccinated. University Health Services will begin offering an additional booster dose to immunocompromised students on August 23rd.
Blank says the university is still planning on in-person classes and other activities in the fall semester, saying the high level of vaccination on campus should provide for a “more normal semester than last fall.”
In the message to staff and students, Blank says the university is continuing to consult with campus public health experts and keeping a close eye on conditions on campus and in the Madison community.
UW-Madison previously announced that masks would be required for everyone, regardless of vaccination status, indoors on campus as part of its plans for the fall semester.
However, due to a decision by the Wisconsin State Legislature’s Republican-controlled Joint Committee for Review of Administrative Rules earlier this month, all mandates made by UW System schools — including UW-Madison’s mask mandate and this testing requirement — need to be submitted for approval.
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