Purdue adds random coronavirus testing during fall term

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) - Students and staff at Purdue University will be tapped for random coronavirus testing during the fall term, the school said Friday.

Purdue already is requiring a negative test result prior to arrival on campus or proof of a 10-day isolation if they tested positive.

'œOngoing surveillance sampling and testing is a critical step in our Protect Purdue Plan to monitor for potential infection both on and off campus,'ť said Dr. Esteban Ramirez, health center medical director.

Classes for most of Purdue's 40,000 students start Monday. Ramirez said the goal is to test approximately 10% of the campus each week. Students will have 48 hours to be tested after getting an email.

Purdue suspended 36 students for attending a party on the same day that President Mitch Daniels made it a violation to host or attend a party that doesn't adhere to social distancing and mask rules.