Sonoma State University is discontinuing operations of the COVID-19 on campus testing and screening center in the recreation center beginning Nov. 1.

The recreation testing center has been open since February 2021 and has helped nearly 3,000 individuals with a total of 15,000 individual tests. Over the fall semester, in the last ten weeks, there have been less than 100 COVID tests administered. 

According to a Sonoma State email, the decline in testing is due to the vast availability of testing resources, coupled with the decrease in COVID cases on campus and regionally. However, testing protocols will continue to be evaluated based on trends in positivity rates and case counts, including the evaluation of a need for on campus testing.

Even though testing is decreasing, some students feel as if the campus should still keep all sites open in case of another spike in cases.

Alexander Kolshorn, a senior business major said, “COVID won’t be over, I feel bad because this makes it harder to find a COVID test.” Kolshorn believes it is too soon for the removal of this testing site because more contagious variants that can evade the new vaccines could evolve. “It is still important to get tested for COVID since these contagious variants can cause a winter surge,” Kolshorn said.

Jodecie Alaze Sanchez, a junior criminal justice major, feels as if the testing site was a great resource for students who needed to be tested since many places were either costly or not locationally inconvenient. Sanchez said, “I know COVID is slowly going away, but it’s still a health risk to those with underlying health conditions including myself. I have used the testing center when people around me were sick or if I was feeling unwell.” Although Sanchez has not gotten COVID, having SSU provide these testing sites was a huge relief for her health and made her feel safer. Sanchez continued, “I think that the school should continue to provide testing sites just because you never know what the future might hold.”

Donald Lawrence Lincoln III, a freshman computer science major, is disappointed that SSU is taking away a testing site. Lincoln said, “I think it is too soon because I think some people are still worried about getting COVID. Even after the pandemic is over I might still get COVID so having those testing sites open is beneficial.”

Briana Wilson, a junior early childhood studies major doesn’t feel any particular way about SSU removing a COVID testing site because at home tests are easily accessible for her. Wilson said, “I think it is unfortunate for those who need it as a resource and it was taken away from them but I don’t feel it is too soon for them to remove the testing site since the shortage of at-home testing is gone.” Wilson does hope that cases do start to rise, that SSU would reopen the testing site.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website, 396,620 people, or 80% of the population are fully vaccinated in Sonoma County. Additionally, the number of COVID cases across the county is considered low.

The student health center will still administer COVID tests for students who have symptoms. They will not be doing screenings. Employees and students who are experiencing symptoms are still required to notify the COVID monitoring office of any COVID like symptoms.

You can make an appointment over the phone Monday-Thursday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Fridays 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.