FGCU offers students COVID-19 personal test kits for the holidays

The CDC is recommending people don’t go home for Thanksgiving, but some college students might not have a choice.

FGCU is making sure its students don’t increase the spread of the coronavirus when they return from the holidays.

The university is offering free test kits for students to take home.

“I thought that this was going to be over by the summer,” FGCU student Jack Hellmer said.

But there’s no sign the virus is letting up anytime soon, forcing students and staff at FGCU to change their Thanksgiving traditions.

“Most of the time when I go back for Thanksgiving, we have like 20 to 30 people from our family,” FGCU student Dylan Lyman said. “This year we just decide it’s going to be our immediate family.”

“My grandparents won’t be coming to Thanksgiving, and we don’t have a lot of family coming in from out of town as we usually would,” Hellmer said.

The test kits are do-it-yourself simple. Three days later, you get the results.

“I think it’s nice that they’re doing that for their students,” FGCU student Luke Southmayd said. “For some people, they don’t have the resources to go out and get a test by themselves.”

The kit is meant for student to use before they leave for thanksgiving and before they return. We had one teacher show us just how easy it is. In two minutes, you’re done.

“I think it’s great that we’re actually able to go online really quick and order a test, and it’s free,” said.

Hellmer told us the test offers students peace of mind.

“For my family, just to make sure everyone’s OK, and I don’t want to go home if I end up having COVID,” Hellmer said.