Health and Testing

Latest news

Self-Testing

For home testing: Obtain a self-test and follow the directions included in the package. There is no requirement for a specific brand of testing. Kits may be in short supply, but are available online and in drug stores. You can explore availability at your local pharmacies. If you have time to plan ahead, every home in the U.S. is now eligible to order four free at-⁠home COVID-⁠19 tests at covidtests.gov. Orders will usually ship in 7-12 days.

For community testing: Visit the Community-Based Testing Sites page on the Department of Health and Human Services website to find a location.
 

If You Test Positive

After a positive test result, you must notify Student Health and immediately begin quarantine.

Upon new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, you may return to campus in 5 days (after initial symptom or positive test) if the following criteria are met:

• Symptomatic Infection
  • 24 hours afebrile and symptoms are improved
  • Negative test collected on day 5 after initial symptom onset
• Asymptomatic Infection
  • Negative test collected on day 5 after initial test

If a repeat test is positive on day 5, you may return to campus on day 10:

• If you have no fever for 24 hours, without use of fever reducing medications and symptoms are improving.
• Note that no additional testing is required after 10 days onset of initial symptoms or negative test if asymptomatic.

Or:

• Ten days or more since onset of symptoms with no fever for 24 hours, without use of fever reducing medications and symptoms are improving.
• No additional testing requirement is needed after 10 days onset of initial symptom or negative test if asymptomatic.

If you are a Rush employee and test positive, notify Employee Health at EmployeeCOVIDTesting@rush.edu of your positive COVID-19 test result and follow the provided guidelines and return to work clearance protocols.
 

COVID-19 Boosters

We strongly encourage those who have not yet received a booster vaccine to schedule an appointment via MyChart, as it is clear that vaccination with a booster shot remains the best protection from the further spread of COVID-19. You can also find vaccine appointments throughout Chicago with this Chicago vaccine finder.

Please continue to closely adhere to hand hygiene, masking and distancing guidelines, as these measures are also critical to slow the spread in our community. As this situation is constantly evolving, some of the information in this update may change.
 

Learn More

If you have any questions about University policy, please email Student Health at Student_Health@rush.edu.

For the latest COVID-19 pandemic information, visit rush.edu/covid19.