 The health and safety of our students, faculty, and staff is Mount Holyoke College's number one priority. As we welcome more of our community members back to campus for the spring semester, we are following the CDC's recommended COVID-19 prevention measures, practicing physical distancing, wearing a face covering, washing hands frequently, self-monitoring for possible symptoms of COVID-19, and participating in regular asymptomatic testing. The College has set up a COVID-19 testing center for students and employees, all students living on campus will be tested at least twice per week. Faculty and staff working on campus are tested at least weekly based on a signed risk category. So how does testing work? The testing center is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 30 p.m. Your first step is to make a reservation for your testing day and time. Reservations are done by logging in to embark to schedule your test. The portal to embark can be found on the Student Life webpage. When your reservation time arrives, grab your face covering and one card, and go to the testing center located on the ground floor of Carr Lab. The center is entered only through Gateway Road. Come in the door to the testing center and go to the hand sanitizer station while maintaining physical distance. Then, join the line. The total time of waiting should be 10 to 15 minutes. You will move on to the check-in station. Tap your one card. Answer a few questions from the testing center staff to confirm the information matches you with the information required by the lab. You will be handed a testing swab and tube. A testing center staff member will direct you to one of the negative pressure hoods where you will collect your own specimen. Drop your face covering. Blow your nose if you feel the need and did not do this prior to arrival of testing. Remove the cap on the tube. It is a pop-off. You can place this in the tube holder provided. Using the swab, which is like a Q-tip with a longer handle, make three large circles inside each nostril. It is important to touch the inside surface of each nostril. Place your swab, cut and tip down in your tube, and close the top of the tube. A testing center staff member will be observing and guiding you. They will answer questions or provide guidance if needed. Replace your face covering. Proceed to the checkout where you will hand the cap tube to a testing center staff member. They will confirm that the specimen and label are correct. And now you're done. Use hand sanitizer on your way out, which is up the stairs and out to the loading dock door. Results are normally available within 24 hours. If your test result is negative, you will receive an email from Care Evolve sent to your Mahalyok email address. When you receive your initial test results, you will need to create an account on the testing lab website, including setting up a password. If your result is positive, you will receive a phone call from Mahalyok College Health Services with instructions and next steps. The testing center staff will email you if the lab was not able to run your test. See you at the testing center and stay safe.