LAWRENCE, Kan. — The University of Kansas is taking precautions to ensure students, staff and their families are safe this Thanksgiving break.
This school year has been different for students everywhere. Due to the pandemic, classes are being held virtually and rarely in-person.
“I’ve only had one class in-person and so I don’t come on campus like I’d normally do. I only come on campus once a week," KU senior Drake Cartwright said.
As Thanksgiving break approaches, the university is offering free COVID-19 testing to all students, staff and faculty members.
“We’re providing testing for individuals who are leaving our campus going into the Thanksgiving break, just to make sure that if anybody wants something before they go home, we have available testing for them," said Andrew Foster, KU's emergency management coordinator.
Some students who spoke with 41 Action News on Friday said they plan on returning home, while others will remain on campus.
“I’m going to go back home, see my family. I live in Kansas City, Missouri, so I’m not too far fortunately," said freshman Gaston Meya.
The free testing will continue on campus through Sunday, and test results take anywhere from 24 to 48 hours to return.
“This is just an opportunity, we have a lot of students that want to be safe going home and we have a lot of parents that want to make sure that their child that’s coming home is taking every precaution that they can," Foster said.
When students leave campus for the holiday break, they will be sent home with a COVID-19 saliva test kit. Students will be required to take the test before returning to campus in January.
