University of Kentucky begins performing COVID-19 tests on 30,000 students

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The University of Kentucky began performing COVID-19 tests on 30,000 students Monday.

All current and incoming students are required to take a coronavirus test before school starts. Students who test positive will be contacted by phone by a member of the UK Health Corps team.

Tests are administered from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily through Aug. 22, and UK said the first day went well.

"If you are coming at the top of the hour, the average wait time is 15 minutes," UK Police Chief Joe Monrose said. "If you come after that rush period, it's less than five."

There are five drive-thru lanes at the Kroger Field site. Monroe said the university is recommending that students make an appointment.

"This first day is our busiest," he said. "We are averaging, on registration today, about 1,800. Tomorrow, we'll have about 1,600 to 1,700. So we're averaging about 2,000 a day."

UK will hold in-person classes beginning Aug. 17 and running through Thanksgiving break.

This testing is only for students. Monroe said staff will be tested later. The five testing locations on campus include drive-thru and walk-up testing.