Peoria Standard

Illinois State University's board of trustees on Aug. 12 approved a $3.3 million contract for COVID-19 testing on people who have no symptoms of the virus.

The university already had a contract with Reditus Laboratories for testing those with symptoms. The new agreement will cover up to 30,000 "surveillance" tests of those without signs, the university said in an August release.

The university said it the release that testing is a "critical element for the return to campus for the fall to allow for the rapid identification and containment of new cases of COVID-19."

The contract runs through Dec. 31 with a price of about $110 per test, the university said in the release, adding that "Testing will be completed at on-campus locations." 

Reditus tested Illinois State athletes earlier this year to qualify them for team practices and events, the university said in the release. The company also managed the McLean County Interstate Center testing site for the Illinois Department of Public Health.

The university's COVID-19 reopening plan is called "Redbirds Return."

"For 162 years, Illinois State University has opened its academic year in an atmosphere of excitement and anticipation," President Larry Dietz wrote in an Aug. 4 update. "As we make final preparations for our 163rd year, I ask that you add another noun to the mix — vigilance."

The university has moved more courses online.

 "Courses that require a face-to-face component such as those in the sciences, music, and art, will remain face-to-face or hybrid," Dietz said in the update. "I realize that this decision, being made very close to the beginning of the fall semester, is not ideal. However, this decision was based in science, guidance from public health officials, and takes into consideration the university's current testing capabilities and other resources."

Among the precautions is a requirement that students wear masks in the residence halls when they leave their rooms, Dietz said in the update.