Employee Weekly Testing FAQ
Minnesota State University, Mankato COVID-19 Testing Approach for Employees & Student Employees.
State Requirement for Proof of Vaccine or Weekly Testing
On August 11, 2021, Governor Walz announced that, effective Sept. 8, 2021, all state agency employees, including employees of Minnesota State University, Mankato, who are assigned to work at the workplace or otherwise provide agency services outside their home are required to either show proof of full COVID-19 vaccination or be tested at least weekly. Teleworkers who need to access the workplace for more than 10 minutes or provide agency services outside their home will be required to show proof of full COVID-19 vaccination or engage in weekly testing before being allowed to do so.
Who is included in weekly surveillance testing?
Any employee, including student employees, who has NOT provided proof of full COVID-19 vaccination and assigned to work at the workplace or otherwise provide Minnesota State University, Mankato services outside their home is required to participate in weekly surveillance testing.
What is the test the University will be using?
Minnesota State Mankato has secured individual saliva-based PCR tests from Vault Health to meet employees’ testing needs. These are the same tests that the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) uses at state testing sites like the one relocated to Mankato’s Armory.
When and where will the weekly surveillance testing be available?
The University will provide a surveillance testing site in Carkoski Commons (the old dining hall) adjacent to the Student Health Center. The testing clinic will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesdays, starting on Tuesday, Sept. 14, 2021. Employees who work at the University outside of those times may pick up a test from University Security Dispatch (Weicking Center 222) on Tuesday night and return it there by noon on Wednesday.
What will happen at the weekly surveillance testing site?
- In preparation for the test, you may not eat or drink anything 30 minutes prior to your saliva test. That includes water, chewing gum, and any tobacco products.
- Employees who will participate in weekly surveillance testing who arrive at the testing site will be asked if they have a smart phone or device to use to register for and complete the testing process. If the employee does not, then someone will provide registration assistance.
- Employees will be given a test kit and directed to a table to follow the directions on the Vault website for the testing kit, which includes spitting into a vial, placing a top on the vial, and shaking the vial.
- At the completion of the test, the employee will place the test vial into a provided biohazard bag.
- Test results will be sent directly to the employee, not to the University.
Do I have to use the university provided surveillance testing site for my weekly testing?
Employees have a choice regarding the location of their weekly COVID surveillance testing. The University is funding this campus-based testing option at no cost to employees. There are other testing options locally, but any cost associated with those testing options will be borne by the employee.
Once I receive my test result, what do I do?
Employees who participate in the University-funded weekly surveillance testing will receive their results directly within 24-48 hours of the test. Your work status will not change from the previous week as you wait for the results. You must immediately share the results of the test with the University through the link in the test reminder email. If you are negative, you can continue to work as usual. If you are positive, you should follow MDH guidelines, call the Campus Reporting Hotline at (507) 389-2030 and report your absence to your supervisor.
How long will the campus surveillance testing site be available?
We will continue to provide a surveillance testing option for employees as long as the State policy is in place. The University might not use the same testing services throughout the year but will provide a no cost testing option for employees.
