MCC Daily Tribune

Two COVID-19 Testing Centers on Campus: What is the difference?

On Friday, Jan. 21, as directed by Gov. Kathy Hochul, a New York State Community COVID-19 Testing site opened in the R. Thomas Flynn Campus Center’s Gilman Lounge on the Brighton Campus. This testing site operates separately from MCC’s Pooled Testing Center and is open to the general public. While this site also offers free, oral, saliva-based testing, appointments and test results are processed and reported outside of MCC’s established testing, reporting and tracking systems. MCC does not receive test results from the NYS site.

MCC’s Pooled Testing Center exclusively serves MCC students and employees. Since fall 2020, center staff and volunteers have helped MCC identify cases of COVID-19 early in order to protect members of our college community and prevent outbreaks on campus. The center is an essential part of MCC’s health and safety plan during the pandemic. The dedication and efforts of MCC’s Public Safety and Health Services teams, as supported by other involved colleagues, have been extraordinary.

When you test at MCC’s Pooled Testing Center, your test results are automatically reported to the college and enable Public Safety and Health Services teams to promptly notify you if you are part of a positive pool. The results are also used to monitor the presence/absence of COVID-19 on campus and inform daily and weekly updates to SUNY, Monroe County and the college community. Information and upcoming testing session dates and times are available on the website. (The center will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. today, Jan. 25.)

Regardless of your vaccination status, if you teach, work or learn in person, please test at last once at MCC’s Pooled Testing Center before Feb. 3 in order for MCC to assess the presence/absence of COVID-19 on campus and establish a baseline measurement for the spring semester as required by SUNY. Thank you for supporting this effort.

Your questions are welcomed at covid19response@monroecc.edu.

Rosanna Yule
Government and Community Relations
01/25/2022