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U of O expands COVID-19 testing program to Lane County residents with mild symptoms

Lines stayed steady on the west side of U of O's McArthur Court for newly offered symptomatic COVID-19 testing.
Tiffany Eckert
/
KLCC
Lines stayed steady on the west side of U of O's McArthur Court for newly offered symptomatic COVID-19 testing.

The University of Oregon’s COVID-19 Monitoring and Assessment Program -or MAP -has long been providing testing opportunities for asymptomatic Lane County residents. Now, in the midst of the Omicron surge-- the program has expanded to offer free tests to people experiencing mild viral symptoms.

There are two COVID-19 testing lines outside historic McArthur Court on campus. On the north side of the building, asymptomatic testing occurs indoors. UO MAP Director Brian Fox said if you have any symptoms like a stuffy head or runny nose, your line is outside, on the west side.

“There are QR codes that you put your phone in front of, follow to the website and registration link,” he explained. “And then, come to the ticket booth. And there we’ll hand you a test tube along with a kit and instructions and then you can provide the sample right there to the person in the booth.”

A ticket booth at McArthur Court on the UO campus has been transformed to a COVID-19 test site for people with mild cold or flu symptoms looking to know their status.
Tiffany Eckert
A ticket booth at McArthur Court on the UO campus has been transformed to a COVID-19 test site for people with mild cold or flu symptoms looking to know their status.

The saliva-based PCR test samples are processed in the medical labs on the Knight campus in Eugene. Fox said results come within 1 to 4 days. He added positive COVID-19 tests are reported to Lane County Public Health as well as Oregon Health Authority.

Health authorities remind everyone that if you are feeling sick, don’t go to work or class. If your symptoms are mild flu or common cold-like, the walk up outdoor MAP testing is available. If your symptoms are more severe, contact your healthcare provider for testing options.

More information on UO MAP testing:

People with mild symptoms can get tested at the ticket booths on the west side of McArthur Court, off University Street, from 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. and again from 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, on days when MAP is operational.

No appointment is required, but supply is limited. Individuals with symptoms should not enter McArthur Court itself, as the nearby indoor testing is the existing program for asymptomatic individuals only. People who have no clear symptoms (asymptomatic) should continue to use the online registration process and set an appointment time. Walk-ins are permitted, but may have longer wait times, as registered participants have priority.

Participants in MAP testing should anticipate a wait time of around one hour. All tests are saliva tests and results will be provided within 2 to 4 business days, though often within 24 hours, via a secure online portal.

The MAP program anticipates offering around 3,000 tests a week with this testing expansion.

Tiffany joined the KLCC News team in 2007. She studied journalism at the University of Missouri-Columbia and worked in a variety of media including television, technical writing, photography and daily print news before moving to the Pacific Northwest.