April 9, 2021

COVID-19 Stats: College and University COVID-19 Student Testing Protocols, by Mode of Instruction (N = 1,849) — United States, Spring 2021

Category: Article Summary

Topic: Testing and Treatment

Keywords (Tags): colleges, testing

• As of March 17, 2021, a total of 899 (49%) of 1,849 public and private nonprofit 4-year U.S. colleges and universities provided some type of COVID-19 testing for asymptomatic students. A total of 548 (30%) institutions conducted classes in-person or in a hybrid format. At 389 (43%) institutions there were protocols that required periodic testing for various subgroups (e.g., athletes and a random sample of students), and 287 (32%) institutions mandated that all students receive regular testing, which did not vary between public and private institution or by mode of instruction. 18% (338 of 1,849) of institutions did not mention a COVID-19 testing protocol on their websites, including 146 with in-person or hybrid instruction. A majority (950; 51%) of institutions did not publish a testing protocol for screening asymptomatic students in spring 2021.

CDC. (Apr 9, 2021). COVID-19 Stats: College and University COVID-19 Student Testing Protocols, by Mode of Instruction (N = 1,849) — United States, Spring 2021. MMWR. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7014a5