Coronavirus tests to be handed out on campus

The municipalities are responsible for the distribution of self-tests, but UiA Help will be an important partner in both municipalities.

Self-testing will become an important part of the coronavirus prevention strategy. Notifying others who may have been exposed will mostly be done by each individual and not by municipal contact tracers.

Remember: Tests at Campus Kristiansand have to be ordered beforehand through help@uia.no, chat or by calling 3814 1000. Please tell which campus you belong to when you order self-tests.  If you don't, the switchboard have to spend time to look you up.

Easy access for students

The government wants the students back on campus and wants them to have as much in-person instruction as possible. One consequence of that is that there must be frequent testing.

The press release from 13 January, The Norwegian Government is easing measures, states that: “As long as tests are in adequate supply, it is recommended that regular testing of students be facilitated. Tests should be handed out to students, and it should be easy for students to collect tests on campus.”

There are however no instructions on how to do this in practice.

The university’s two host towns have decided on two different procedures.

UiA’s understanding is that when the students have lectures on campus, lecturers and other university employees should also get the same access to the self-tests.

All students doing practice placements can pick up self-tests at UiA Help at both campuses.

Everybody must get tested prior to starting their placement.

How to use the self-tests:

Read the instruction leaflet carefully and follow the instructions precisely.

See also:

Self test kit Covid-19 - Instructions from the University of Bergen

Instructions with pictures from Bærum municipality (text in Norwegian only)

Campus Grimstad

Grimstad municipality hands out self-tests Monday to Friday in Gata at campus. Here Anne Kristine Erlandsen hands out a self-test package. (Photo: Eli Marie Røkenes) 

Grimstad municipality will have a stand in Gata from Monday. It will be manned by people from the municipality from 10:00 to 13:00, and it is strongly requested that you pick up tests during these hours.

Outside these times, self-tests can be collected at UiA Help.

“The distribution is based on trust. We expect the tests to be used by those who need them and not simply stored for later use”, says Tor-Erik Austenaa in Grimstad municipality.

Each package includes 5 self-tests and an instruction leaflet. The tests should be taken every 4 days, which means that each package should last 3 weeks.

The Coronavirus-site at Grimstad municipality:

Campus Kristiansand

You pick up the self-tests from the box inside the main entrance. A reference number is written on the package. (A new box is in place from Tuesday, same place)

Kristiansand municipality will not hand out coronavirus tests on campus, UiA Help will do that. Only those who need testing can come collect them. Kristiansand has given a number of criteria for picking up tests.

See the municipal website on the handing out of self-tests and note how they should be used. 

UiA Help hands out tests to the following (In Kristiansand: Max two self-tests):

• Those who have symptoms
• Those who are close contacts to a positive case
• Students who want to get tested before lectures start on campus
• For other purposes, you must order self-tests through Kristiansand municipality

The following procedure applies:

1. Report the need for a test through help@uia.no (main channel), or on chat or phone 3814 1000.
2. You will be notified by email when the test(s) are ready for collection
3. They can be picked up from the box inside the main entrance. A reference number is written on the package.
4. Requests are handled efficiently and never take long.

The coronavirus site at Kristiansand municipality: (choose language in the top line)

If you test positive on a self-test, you must book a PCR test at Kløvertun in Kristiansand. See instructions on the municipal website. Please note that the rules for who can get a PCR test have been changed.

Kløvertun coronavirus centre. The address is Vigeveien 22A. It is near E18 between Bjørndalssletta and Varoddbroa. Open for those who cannot take a self-test or have tested positive on a self-test.