COVID Testing & Flu Shot Clinic
October 14, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Eastern Illinois University, W Lot
(Near the corner of Fourth Street and Roosevelt Drive, just west of Lawson Hall.)
EIU has partnered with the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Coles County Health Department to offer COVID tests and flu shots for students, faculty, staff, annuitants and the local community.
Drive-thru and walk-up options will be available. Vehicles will be directed to enter the site via Terrace Lane, south of Wesley United Methodist Church. (See map for entry location and directions.)
There is no cost for COVID testing or flu shots at the Oct. 14 clinic date.
Individuals may choose to participate in either COVID testing or the flu shot clinic. They may also choose to participate in both.
What to Bring
- Students: Bring your Panther Card and provide your LOCAL (school) address to the testing staff.
- Employees and Annuitants: Bring your Panther Card and insurance card.
- Community Members: Bring a photo ID and your insurance card if you have one.
- EIU’s masking policy means all individuals will be expected to appropriately wear clean cloth or disposable face masks while on campus. Please bring your mask, as additional ones will not be provided.
Travel Considerations After Testing
Students or employees who plan to travel away from Charleston after testing are strongly advised to take all personal and academic materials (e.g. medication, textbooks, computer, etc.) that would be needed to isolate or quarantine in that location.
Anyone who is notified of a positive COVID-19 test result or deemed to be a contact of someone who tests positive for COVID-19 will be expected to follow the directive of the medical provider or public health official who contacts them. In most cases, individuals will not be permitted to return to Charleston until the end of their isolation/quarantine period. This guidance holds true at all times, but it is especially critical to remember with Fall Break this Friday, October 16.
Student Symptomatic Testing
Students experiencing COVID-19 symptoms are encouraged to call EIU’s Medical Clinic at 217-581-3013 to schedule an appointment. Symptomatic students may be tested for COVID-19 at the Medical Clinic for $40.
Other Local Testing Opportunities
Information regarding testing options at Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center can be found on the hospital’s website.
Testing FAQ
Is there a cost for testing?
- COVID-19 surveillance testing scheduled for October 14 in Eastern’s W Lot is free of charge.
- Symptomatic students may be tested for COVID-19 at EIU’s Medical Clinic for $40.
- Information regarding cost of testing at Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center can be found on the hospital’s website.
What kind of test is it?
- The test is called an "Anterior Nares Swab". This specimen is collected by inserting a foam swab a small distance into each nostril. The swab is rotated and kept in place for approximately 15 seconds in each nostril.
How will I be notified of the results?
- Students, employees, annuitants or community members who participate in COVID-19 surveillance testing on October 14 will receive a phone call from the vendor utilized by the Illinois Department of Public Health in 4-7 days.
- If students test at EIU’s Medical Clinic, they will receive a phone call from Medical Clinic staff if their test is positive. If the test is negative, the result will be available in the student’s Health and Counseling Services Patient Portal.
What do I do if I test positive?
- If you test positive as a result of a test through EIU's Medical Clinic, immediately separate yourselves from others and wait to be contacted by a contact tracer who will give you instructions.
- If you test positive outside of EIU’s Medical Clinic or are ordered to quarantine by representatives other than Coles County Health Department officials you should complete the "EIU COVID-19 Isolation and Quarantine Reporting Form" found on the Medical Clinic’s website. When the Medical Clinic receives this reporting form, a staff member will contact the student to provide further assistance with details, such as notification of faculty.
What do I do if I think I have been exposed to COVID-19?
- If you have neither tested positive nor been directed to quarantine but you are concerned you may have been exposed to COVID-19, call EIU’s Medical Clinic at 217-581-3013. The Medical Clinic is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. If it is after hours, students should immediately separate themselves from others and call the Medical Clinic when it re-opens. While students await instruction from the Medical Clinic, those who have an active meal plan and live in a University residence may utilize "Panther Pick-Up" to designate another student to pick up meals for them at a Dining Center and leave the meals outside their door.
Do I have to follow the instructions of the contact tracer?
- Student and employee cooperation with contact tracers is required. For the safety of the EIU community and to continue mitigating the spread of the COVID-19 virus, all students, faculty, and staff are expected to comply and cooperate with the requests of COVID-19 contact tracers in a timely manner. Contact tracers work alongside and under the guidance of Dr. Sheila Simons, EIU Professor in the Department of Public Health. Any faculty or staff members who fail to comply will be referred to Human Resources and the office of Employee and Labor Relations for possible disciplinary action. Students who fail to comply will be referred to the Office of Student Accountability and Support and may receive an interim suspension and/or campus ban.
Where can I get information about COVID-19 cases at EIU?
- The university's COVID-19 online dashboard details numbers regarding on-campus cases and is updated weekly. The university has strategically partnered with the Coles County Health Department to accurately and responsibly track cases locally.
