NC State community,

As we begin 2022 with hope and excitement for all this year can bring, we must continue doing everything we can to keep our Wolfpack safe and healthy. Remember that the best defense against COVID-19, including the omicron variant, is to get vaccinated. Please get your vaccine — and if you’re eligible, your booster shot — to protect yourself and others.

To prepare for the new semester and protect the safety of our university community, please take a moment to review the following important COVID-related information.

COVID-19 Testing Requirements for Spring

As announced during winter break, NC State is requiring return-to-campus testing for all unvaccinated faculty, students and staff, as well as for all residents (regardless of vaccination status) in University Housing and Greek Village. Tests must be taken within 72 hours of returning to campus (before or after), and test results must be provided to the university. See specifics here. 

Any students, faculty or staff who have not provided proof of vaccination continue to be required to participate in weekly surveillance testing this spring. Faculty, staff and students who have provided proof of vaccination are not required to participate in weekly testing. 

For all required return-to-campus and weekly testing, the following types of tests are now acceptable:

• On-campus PCR test. See testing locations and hours here. The results of on-campus tests will be automatically submitted to the university.
• Off-campus PCR test. Participants must submit off-campus test results here. 
• Two negative antigen tests (including home tests). Participants who take antigen tests must obtain negative results from two separate tests, and they must submit the results from both antigen tests together here. 

On-campus PCR COVID-19 testing remains available free of charge for all in the NC State community; check here for testing locations and hours. Please note that antigen tests are not available on campus and are not provided by the university. 

New Isolation and Quarantine Guidance
NC State is following updated Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance for COVID-19 isolation and quarantine, issued on Dec. 27, 2021. Please click here to review the most up-to-date isolation and quarantine guidance from the university.

Providing Vaccine and Booster Records
As stated above, to be exempt from required weekly testing, students, faculty and staff must provide proof of vaccination to NC State. In addition to primary vaccinations, NC State is asking all students, faculty and staff to provide booster records to the university. Boosters are not required for weekly testing exemptions; however, booster shots can affect quarantine decisions made in accordance with guidelines from the CDC and the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. 

For more information on uploading your records, please click here. To schedule a vaccine or booster appointment on campus, please click here. 

Face Coverings Still Required
All students, faculty, staff and visitors are required to wear face coverings while indoors on campus, as well as in any off-campus building or facility owned, controlled, managed or leased by NC State for the university’s use; and when riding on the Wolfline bus system, other forms of public transportation serving the NC State campus, or university passenger vans or buses. For more information about the face covering policy and exemptions to the requirement, please click here. 

Looking Ahead

The university will continue closely monitoring COVID-19 conditions and following the guidance of health care officials, and we will update the campus community about any changes to our safety measures. Check for updates and information on the Protect the Pack website, and email covidresources@ncsu.edu with any COVID-related questions. 

Working together, we have demonstrated that NC State’s pandemic-related safety measures are effective. Please continue doing all you can to stay healthy and to help ensure a successful spring semester for our Pack.