Emerson will require students to receive a rapid antigen test prior to their arrival back to campus if they chose to leave for spring break, announced college officials on Wednesday afternoon. 

The announcement, sent out by “COVID Lead” and Assistant Vice President for Campus Life, Erik Müürisepp, stated that the rapid tests must be self-administered and completed 24 hours prior to returning to campus. Students who have tested positive within the last 90 days will be exempt from this requirement. 

The requirement mimics one set by the college for the Thanksgiving break during the Fall 2021 semester. For Thanksgiving break, students were required to test with a school-provided BinaxNow rapid antigen test and report a negative result within 48 hours of returning back to campus. 

The tests provided for the Thanksgiving break also required students to administer their tests with a proctor via a QRL Code on the boxes. 

Unlike the Thanksgiving requirement, students will not have to provide an attestation of their result in the Emerson App—though it is recommended that students take a picture of their results for their own records—and the email did not mention whether or not the tests would be provided by the college. 

The testing center will be open over break to students that choose to remain on campus over break as well as to working staff.

Students will also be required to begin their weekly testing again starting March 14.