Tests for COVID-19 and contact tracing are crucial “to safely and effectively provide education, jobs, and wholesome recreation to our residents and the many visitors that frequent this great state,” said BYU–Hawaii President John S.K. Kauwe III in a column for the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.
According to University information, since the start of the program, there have been 19 total cases of COVID-19 since the beginning of Winter 2021 Semester. However, Kauwe said the number of cases on campus is 10 times lower than the rate of the City and County of Honolulu overall.
The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported the seven-day average positivity rate of the City and County of Honolulu is 2.9 percent, as of Jan. 29, 2021.
Kauwe explained in the column published on Jan. 26, the low positivity rate has come from quickly finding cases and efficiently quarantining individuals through contact tracing. “The results are clear, and our rate of COVID-19 positive individuals has gone down drastically during our testing.”
Kauwe said, “Spiritually and personally we are learning the value and impact of making small sacrifices to our own time and comfort to protect others, especially the most vulnerable among us.
“There have been some challenges and growing pains, but on the whole, the collection of samples and operations around testing have been very smooth,” he said. BYUH and the Seasider Testing program have conducted more than 6,152 NAAT, or nucleic acid amplification tests, as of Jan. 23.
Kauwe wrote, “This has been a very large undertaking and has required considerable effort and cooperation from every member of our University community.”
In addition to testing, Seasider Testing provides contact tracing, isolation support and adherence to all preventive measures, including mask-wearing, washing hands, and physical distancing, Kauwe wrote.
Kauwe noted the testing program is giving students and faculty practical lessons about communication and executing large, complex initiatives in a short period of time.
Jon Thompson, a sophomore from Canada studying biomedical science, said the new COVID-19 testing on campus beats the nasal or throat swabs for the virus. Thompson said he has done the test weekly since arriving on campus back in September, and some benefits of the test are the simplicity and the speed.
“The test results come back usually in around 24 hours, so there’s not much anticipation,” he explained. “The scheduling system they have is great as well. I can always fit in the weekly test around one of my campus classes without it being a big hassle.” The test isn’t scary, Thompson said, but it is a little awkward to stand in a room and fill up the tube with saliva.
Kauwe said the tests take very little time to take. Using only 20, maybe 30 minutes a week, he said, will result in a drastic increase in the safety of campus and its capacity to serve its students.
Brent Yergensen, a professor in the Faculty of Arts & Letters, said, “The only thing to truly think about before is to drink enough water at least 30 minutes before so that you have enough saliva to put into the cup.”
He explained he has taken the test four times and said he feels safe after receiving his negative results. He said he also enjoys the speed and efficiency of the staff.
BYUH announced in December 2020, via the university website, a phased return for students to campus which included the testing program. Yergensen, however, said his online classes are still asynchronous. “The main instruction is still recorded lessons that are the abbreviated equivalent of class sessions,” he said.
Even though his classes remain online, Yergensen said learning how to teach in diverse ways has been a unique experience. He also hopes students can keep the campus free of COVID-19 by testing regularly for the virus. “It is essential for their health and in preparing for the fantastic upcoming spring semester when we are scheduled to teach face-to-face,” he said.
Thompson said he has learned many lessons from the pandemic, not just from the new testing program. One of them, he said, was sustaining leaders and upholding the laws of the land, even when he may not agree.
“I know lots of people have different opinions regarding this pandemic, but I’ve learned it’s most important to stay humble, obedient and Christ-like through it all,” Thompson explained. “If I were able to make changes to the response, I would; however, I’m not personally in that position. I continue to trust the rules set by government officials, the University and President Kauwe.”
Thompson said students can minimize fear by getting tested. “Knowing what the situation is with regard to the virus spreading here on campus is helpful in combating fear and worry,” he said. “We are able to freely spend time around campus playing basketball, meeting in classrooms and other appropriate activities because we know every week that we are safe. That is something I appreciate.”
Kauwe wrote in his column that there is no strategy to eliminate every risk from contracting COVID-19 through schooling or doing business, but he encouraged members of the BYUH ohana to get vaccinated in a series of short videos answering questions about the vaccines. The videos can be found on the university's website.