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COVID-19 Symptom Checker

All members of the campus community are strongly encouraged to use the COVID-19 Symptom Checker via the Penn State GO App on a daily basis, even when not on campus.

The Penn State GO App can be downloaded via the Apple App Store and Google Play. Once installed, be sure to choose the proper campus experience by following these steps:

  • Download and install the app.
  • Choose "Commonwealth Campus"
  • Choose "New Kensington"

The symptom checker can then be accessed at the top of the New Kensington app home screen.

Student Health Services

Anyone experiencing an emergency situation should contact 911.

Students needing assistance from the campus' Health Services should first call the office to speak with Nurse Stella Milburn for phone consultation to receive guidance and needed care; walk-in visits to Health Services are currently suspended. Nurse Stella can be reached between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. by calling 724-334-6066 or 724-681-3978

Students exhibiting or noticing symptoms of coronavirus should contact the Office of Health Services between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. by calling 724-334-6066 or 724-681-3978 to speak with Nurse Stella Milburn. The nurse will complete a phone screening and assessment of symptoms and provide further guidance on next steps.

Students in need of Health Services after hours (after 5 p.m. and on weekends) can contact the University's Advice Nurse line at 814-863-4463.

Other Health Provider Information

If Nurse Stella is unavailable, you are urged to contact or visit one of the below local healthcare providers.

  • Citizens Family Health Clinic
    • 251 7th Street, Suite G, New Kensington, PA 15068
    • 724-335-0181
    • Hours:
      • Monday, Wednesday, Thursday - 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
      • Tuesday - 8 a.m. - 7 p.m.
      • Friday - 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.
  • Community Health Clinic
    • 943 4th Avenue, New Kensington, PA 15068
    • 724-334-3334
    • Hours:
      • Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday - 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
      • Wednesday - 8:30 a.m. - 8 p.m.
  • MedExpress Urgent Care
    • 303 East Tenth Avenue, Tarentum, PA 15084
    • 724-224-2770
    • Hours:
      • Daily - 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.
  • Allegheny Valley Hospital Emergency Room
    • 1301 Carlisle Street, Natrona Heights, PA 15065
    • 724-224-5100
    • Open 24 hours

Student Insurance & Advocacy

Students in need of assistance with or access to affordable health care can contact University Health Services’ Student Insurance Advocate, Natasha Gates, at [email protected] and 814-865-7467. Gates can also assist students with learning more about and applying for other types of assistance such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

Testing and Tracing Information

Penn State is implementing a COVID-19 testing program that will include in-house and third-party contracted testing for symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals. During the semester, the University will test about 1% of the campus population daily. This includes random and risk-stratified surveillance testing, as well as asymptomatic testing for individuals who are identified in the contact-tracing process. 

More information about the University's overall testing and tracing plans can be found via a July 30 news story. 

Symptomatic Testing for Students:

  • A student showing symptoms or feeling sick should call Nurse Stella as stated above for a phone assessment to determine next steps.
  • If a test is deemed necessary, the student will be directed to a MyQuest link. A Quest Ordering Physician will then order a test.
  • The test will be mailed to the symptomatic student via FedEx.
  • Once received, the test should be mailed back to the lab via FedEx.
  • Student will receive test results and instructions once results are available.

Surveillance Testing for Students:

Students will be required to comply with asymptomatic testing and will be notified if chosen.

  • 1% of the campus population will be chosen for daily surveillance testing. 
  • Those selected will receive notification via email and will need to respond.
  • A test kit will be mailed, which will include a saliva test to be self-administered under virtual observation of a third-party health contractor.
  • Once the test is complete, the kit will be mailed to lab.
  • Student will receive results and instructions once results are available.

Contact Tracing Information:

Penn State is partnering with the Pennsylvania Department of Health for contact tracing. Full details of the plan can be found in a news story from August 25. 

All contact tracing will be done centrally, and Nurse Stella acts as the New Kensington campus local liaison.

The following steps outline the contact tracing process and what students and employees can expect:

  • Step 1: Penn State will identify individuals who are diagnosed with COVID-19 or presumed positive.
  • Step 2: Nursing staff will initiate contact with positive or presumed positive students and employees.
  • Step 3: Contact tracers will communicate with employees and students identified as close contacts about quarantine expectations and support.
  • Step 4: Case managers will reach out daily to students in isolation/quarantine to provide support and will notify faculty and instructors if a student is not permitted to attend class.

Counseling Services

Students in need of counseling services, and those with regularly scheduled counseling meetings, can make arrangements for virtual appointments or discussions by reaching out to Kendra Kitko at 724-334-6744 or [email protected].

Learn more about Kendra and Counseling Services at the campus by watching this video overview.

Crisis and Counseling Resource Hotlines:

  • Call the 24/7 Crisis Line at 1(877) 229-6400
  • Text the 24/7 Crisis Text Line: Text "LIONS" to 741741
  • Students with medical insurance are reminded that contacts for mental health resources can typically be found on the reverse side of the health insurance card.

Additional Mental Health Resources:

For free interactive self-help therapy, students can access the Penn State Well Track portal at: https://psu.welltrack.com/. 

[email protected]

[email protected] is a new online portal that gives students one place to access comprehensive resources, tools, and information around a range of topics within three pillars: Succeed, Thrive, Matter. The portal offers valuable content related to COVID-19, such as working and learning remotely, managing fears and anxieties, and staying connected while physical distancing.

Students log in to the portal at You.PSU.edu using their Penn State credentials. After logging into the portal for the first time, students can create a profile, take a brief questionnaire, and set goals. Based on this information, the content within the portal is customized to a student’s needs and interests, all while maintaining a student’s privacy and anonymity.