UNL warns students retesting for COVID puts others at risk

Officials stress getting another test during the isolation period could transmit the virus

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – The University of Nebraska-Lincoln is telling students who tested positive for COVID-19 to not retest for at least 90 days.

The omicron variant has had a big impact on the university which saw its positivity rate climb to 20% two weeks ago.

As the nation is running short on COVID-19 tests, the university has given students and staff who tested positive a 90-day exemption from testing.  This will help keep testing expenses down and lessen the workload for the testing program.

They also said, “any negative result from additional testing will not change the need to isolate nor will it shorten the isolation period.”  Huskers were also warned that going to get retested during their isolation period is putting others at unnecessary risk, since they could transmit the virus.

UNL says going out to get tested before the 90-days is up could result in another positive test, since the PCR saliva tests are highly sensitive.

The UNL isolation information for positive COVID-19 tests can be found here.