Ohio University announced Thursday that Vault Health’s COVID-19 testing operations will be moved to Shively Hall starting July 19.
Prior to this announcement, asymptomatic coronavirus testing had taken place inside OU’s Tennis Center. Maria Modayil, a COVID-19 epidemiologist quoted in a university news release, said the move will benefit OU’s testing capabilities in numerous ways.
“We are glad to be able to return the tennis courts to their intended use,” Modayil said in the release. “Additionally, the Tennis Center is not temperature controlled. Shively Hall is located in the heart of campus and will be more comfortable for testing as well as vaccine clinics this fall.”
Despite the change of location, OU’s summer testing hours — 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays; and 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Wednesdays — will remain the same.
Gillian Ice, special assistant to the president for public health operations, confirmed Shively Hall will also be used as a vaccination clinic in the fall, though no clinics have been scheduled as of yet.
Heritage Hall, which was previously used as a vaccination site during the 2020-21 academic year, will no longer be used as a primary location for clinics, Ice said.
Shively Hall was originally expected to be used for academic instruction this upcoming Fall Semester, a decision that drew concerns from some university faculty, according to a previous Post report.
Cary Roberts Frith, chief of staff for the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost, said OU no longer plans to use Shively Hall for classroom space.
Shively Hall will also continue to be used as a residence hall, Jneanne Hacker, interim Housing and Residence Life director, said.
According to the release, the Tennis Center will continue to be used as COVID-19 testing space until July 16. It will reopen for tennis July 26.
Claire Schiopota contributed to this report.
