U-M to begin offering free COVID testing to Ann Arbor residents living near campus

ANN ARBOR – As part of an effort to gauge the number of COVID-19 cases on campus, the University of Michigan will be rolling out free community testing for asymptomatic individuals, and for the first time, the testing will be available to Ann Arbor residents who live in close proximity campus.

The move comes as 11 off-campus residences were ordered to quarantine due to positive cases or recent in-person gatherings. University officials have confirmed that some outbreaks of the virus on campus include the new, highly contagious COVID-19 B.1.1.7 variant.

All students -- undergraduate, graduate and professional -- living on and off-campus are currently asked to stay-in-place until 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 7.

Testing offered to the local community is limited to those living within three blocks from campus.

If you do not live right next to campus but would like to be tested, visit Washtenaw County’s COVID testing website to find a free clinic near you.

Additionally, free testing is now offered weekly at Pioneer High School.

The university-run saliva-based testing will be offered to U-M students, faculty, staff and Ann Arbor residents living geographically close to the university on the following days and times:

Test results will be texted and/or emailed within 72 hours from collection by LynxDx, a U-M spinoff based in Ann Arbor that is now one of the leading COVID testing labs in the state of Michigan.

Related reading:

• U-M: COVID cases rise, now represent one-third of total Washtenaw County cases
• University of Michigan identifies virus outbreaks at off-campus houses
• ‘Let us compete’: U-M student athletes call to lift COVID shutdown