UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Penn State has updated its public COVID-19 dashboard with the University's on-demand testing and random testing results from the period of Sept. 11-14, as well as new University testing results from the prior week. These numbers are evolving as many test results are still pending, which will then be validated and uploaded.
For the period of Sept. 11-14, the University Park campus received 100 positive on-demand test results and no positive random testing results from student testing.
Test results received with respect to tests conducted in the week of Sept. 4-10 have added 310 positive on-demand student testing results and 48 additional positive student random testing results for the University Park campus for that week. This brings the current total for the University Park campus for that week to 570 positive on-demand testing results and 76 positive random testing results from student testing.
There are no new employee positives recorded on any Penn State campus.
The dashboard indicates the following results for Commonwealth Campuses:
- Altoona: two on-demand testing positives and one random testing positive (Sept. 4-10)
- Behrend (Erie): three on-demand testing positives (Sept. 4-10)
- Hazleton: one random testing positive (Sept. 4-10)
- Shenango: one on-demand testing positive (Sept. 11-14)
The dashboard also includes five additional positive on-demand testing results – for a total of seven – for the period of Sept. 4-10 among College of Nursing students who are in Hershey for their upcoming clinical rotation. These results are listed under the “Hershey” tab due to their geographic location, however, the nursing students have not started their clinical rotations, so contact with any patients has been limited.
Students who test positive are being placed in isolation and, through robust contact tracing, close contacts of the infected individuals are being identified and must remain in quarantine for 14 days from the last contact with the infected individual.
“We continue to monitor many factors beyond our daily testing results, including local hospitalizations, spread from our student body to employees and the community, and our quarantine and isolation capacity, among many others,” said Penn State President Eric J. Barron. “At this time, these variables remain in our favor and we can continue our on-campus activities.”
Barron added that while he is encouraged 477 students have completed their isolation period and returned to their normal daily lives, he would like to see the numbers of positives decline.
“I know this is a difficult time, but it’s imperative that everyone in our community continues to practice the required health and safety precautions, including wearing a mask, socially distancing and avoiding large gatherings,” he said. “Socialize with your roommates or a very small number of friends who are diligently following guidelines, and take advantage of our organized Student Affairs activities that provide for proper masking and distancing. We can do more to reduce the number of positives and must take the threat of this virus seriously.”
Barron concluded by noting the University is in close communication with state health and education officials regarding prevalence rates and trends. “I had a productive call this afternoon with the Pennsylvania secretaries of Health and Education, to provide an update on Penn State’s University Park numbers, and our planning, monitoring and mitigation processes,” he said. “They are, of course, closely following Centre County’s prevalence rates, and University numbers, and pledged their support and assistance in our efforts.”
To continue on-campus learning, work and other activities through the fall semester, it’s vital that students, faculty and staff at all campuses and in adjacent communities do their part to limit the spread of COVID-19 — and support the effort to “Mask Up or Pack Up.” The University urges everyone to continue to wear face masks, practice social distancing and avoid gatherings entirely.
Students who are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or believe that they may have been a close contact of an infected individual are urged to utilize the University’s health care resource to seek out testing and facilitate contact tracing. At University Park, students with health concerns should call the 24/7 Advice Nurse at 814-863-4463 or the appointment line at 814-863-0774 to schedule an appointment. Commonwealth Campus students should contact their campus’ health care services.
For the latest updates and information on Penn State’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, including frequently asked questions and information specific for students, faculty and staff, visit virusinfo.psu.edu.