Northern is now a mask-optional environment. Please refer to Masks on Campus.

Social distancing, also called “physical distancing,” means keeping a safe space between yourself and other people who are not from your household. If you choose to practice social or physical distancing, stay at least 6 feet (about 2 arms’ length) from other people who are not from your household in both indoor and outdoor spaces, according to CDC Social Distancing.

There are currently no social distancing requirements at Northern, but you may choose to practice social distancing. COVID-19 spreads mainly among people who are in close contact (within about six feet) for a prolonged period. Recent studies indicate that people who are infected but do not have symptoms likely also play a role in the spread of COVID-19. Social distancing is especially important for people who are at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19.

All Northern State University full-time students who have symptoms of COVID-19 can get tested at NSU’s on-campus Avera Health Services. Please call 605-622-8690 (8:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m. Monday-Friday). After hours contact Avera St. Luke’s at 605-622-8690 or download the AveraNOW app (App Store, Google Play) to connect with a provider 24/7. Or, call your healthcare provider for testing. Students who are not sure whether their exposure or symptoms qualify them for testing should call NSU Avera Health Services to be screened for testing.

Students who have an appointment for testing with NSU Avera Health Services to be tested for COVID-19 should double mask before leaving their residence, make no stops, and touch as few surfaces as possible on their way to NSU Avera Health Services on the second floor of the NSU Avera Student Center in room Student Center 239. When you arrive, follow the directions and push the doorbell. An Avera screener will respond and will screen you before you enter.

The Abbott ID Now test is a simple nasal swab.

At this time, Northern State University full-time students are not charged for COVID-19 testing in NSU’s Avera Health Services.

Results are typically known within 15 minutes. See https://www.abbott.com/corpnewsroom/product-and-innovation/detect-covid-19-in-as-little-as-5-minutes.html

If you test positive for COVID-19 at NSU Avera Health Services, you will immediately receive instructions on your next steps, whether you live on campus or off campus. To slow the spread of COVID-19, please return to your residence and call the NSU Dean of Students at 605-626-3007 immediately so we can walk you through quarantine options, help contact your faculty, instigate deep cleaning of spaces where you have had contact, and provide you the support you need.

If you have symptoms of COVID-19 and you test negative for COVID-19 at NSU Avera Health Services, the healthcare provider will draw a second COVID-19 sample and send it to Avera labs for confirmation of a negative test. To slow the spread of COVID-19, please return to your residence and quarantine until you receive the results of your second test. Please call the NSU Dean of Students at 605-626-3007 immediately so we can help contact your faculty, instigate deep cleaning of spaces where you have had contact, and provide you the support you need. Once you receive the results of your second test, please call the NSU Dean of Students immediately at 605-626-3007 to update the office on your test results and plan your next steps.

Contact NSU Avera Health Services at 605-626-7694 for further testing or instructions (8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Monday-Friday). After hours contact Avera St. Luke’s at 605-622-8690 or download the AveraNOW app to connect with a provider 24/7. Or, call your healthcare provider for further testing or instructions.

For more information about Covid-19, please visit the NSU COVID-19 site, the South Dakota Department of Health, and the Centers for Disease Control.

All members of the Northern State University community (students, faculty and staff) are asked to maintain the health of the campus community by staying at home and taking care of themselves if they have symptoms of or are diagnosed with Covid-19. Please follow the steps at What If I Get Sick?

Please see Isolation or Quarantine.

Follow the S.D. Department of Health Coronavirus Quarantine and Isolation Calculator.

Except for circumstances in which Northern is required to report occurrences of communicable disease, the confidentiality of medical conditions will be maintained in accordance with applicable law and to the extent practical under the circumstances. Northern reserves the right to inform other employees and/or students that an unnamed person on campus has been diagnosed with Covid-19 if the other employees/students may have been exposed to the disease so that measures can be taken to protect their health.

Yes, support resources are still available for incidents of sexual assault, harassment, stalking, and domestic and dating violence. To report incidents please use this reporting form. If you need immediate assistance, call 911. During normal business hours, contact the Office of Student Affairs at 605-626-3007.