10/20: COVID-19 dashboard updated with preliminary results from weekend testing

Positives among University Park students continue to decline, but health precautions must continue
Pillar in back of HUB at Penn State

At Penn State's University Park campus, there are 193 active student COVID-19 cases and 3,345 students have completed their isolation period and are no longer active cases, as of Oct. 19.

Credit: Chris Koleno

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State has updated its public COVID-19 dashboard with the University's on-demand testing and random testing results from tests administered during the period of Oct. 16 to 18, as well as new University testing results from the prior week. The few pending results will be validated and uploaded when completed. As of Oct. 19 at University Park, there are 193 active student cases and 3,345 students have completed their isolation period and are no longer active cases.

For the period of Oct. 16 to 18, the University Park campus received 33 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 Oct. 9 to 15 have added 55 positive on-demand student testing results and three 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 184 positive on-demand testing results and nine positive random testing results from student testing.

Among employees at University Park, there are two new positive random testing results for the period of Oct. 9 to 15. There are no employee positives from University testing at other campuses.

“We are seeing the number of positive test results continuing to decline among our students at University Park, but the next month is critical as we are seeing the number of cases of COVID-19 increase in Pennsylvania and across the country,” said Kelly Wolgast, director of Penn State’s COVID-19 Operations Control Center. “As temperatures grow colder and we enter flu season, we need to do all we can to prevent us from facing both COVID-19 and influenza. I strongly encourage everyone in our community to get the flu vaccine and we must continue taking health precautions, including wearing masks, social distancing and avoiding large gatherings.”

University Park On-Demand Student Testing Positive Results by Week:

University Park On-Demand Student Testing Positive Results 10 20 20
Credit: Penn State

University Park Random Student Testing Positive Results by Week:

University Park Random Student Testing Positive Results 10 20 20
Credit: Penn State

Commonwealth Campus Test Results

The dashboard indicates the following new student testing results at Commonwealth Campuses:

  • Altoona: one on-demand testing positive and two random testing positives for the period of Oct. 9 to 15
  • Behrend (Erie): one on-demand testing positive for the period of Oct. 9 to 15      
  • Berks: two random testing positives for the period of Oct. 9 to 15 and one random testing positive for the period of Oct. 16 to 18
  • Harrisburg: two random testing positives for the period of Oct. 9 to 15
  • Lehigh Valley: one random testing positive for the period of Oct. 16 to 18
  • Mont Alto: one random testing positive for the period of Oct. 9 to 15
  • Schuylkill: one random testing positive for the period of Oct. 16 to 18

All students who test positive are being placed in isolation and, through systematic University 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. 

Students who are concerned about COVID-19 exposure are urged to utilize the University’s health care resources to seek out testing and facilitate contact tracing. Students with health concerns should call the 24/7 Advice Nurse at 814-863-4463. At University Park, students can make appointments with University Health Services by using myUHS or calling the appointment line at 814-863-0774. Commonwealth Campus students should contact their campus’ health care services.  

Penn State experts are continuing to track current trends and continuously monitoring local, state and national disease data. The University is working closely with officials from the Pennsylvania Departments of Education and Health, as well as local public and private organizations, to carefully monitor the prevalence of coronavirus in Centre County to determine if the virus is moving from the campus community to the local community and, if so, to develop strategies to mitigate such spread.

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.

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.