Officials at the State University of New York and the United University Professions have reached an agreement to test on-campus staffers for the coronavirus, the union on Tuesday announced. 

The deal, laid out in a memorandum of understanding, runs through Dec. 31 and takes effect immediately for union members working on campus at all state operated colleges, universities and hospitals. 

The agreement comes as COVID-19 cases have increased at SUNY campus across the state. One campus, SUNY Oneonta, has moved to virtual learning entirely after a spike in cases. 

SUNY officials have urged students to follow social distancing guidelines and refrain from holding parties in order to limit the spread of the virus. 

Testing for SUNY staff members will be done during work hours and without any expense to the worker, according to the agreement. The precise details of the testing plan will be developed by individual campus bargaining units and the campus officials. 

UUP leaders had made testing a key issue heading into the start of the semester as students, faculty and staffers returned.