COVID-19 Testing Results from Oct. 4-Oct. 17

Oct 20, 2020 2:40 PM

Surveillance testing of the campus community is being conducted throughout the semester. Testing data is among the several key COVID-19 indicators the University is monitoring to determine the raising or lowering of our institutional recovery response levels.  

TESTING DASHBOARD  

Updated Oct. 20, 2020 – data will be updated regularly on the dashboard page  
Validated results reported in the table below includes surveillance testing, Brady Health Center testing of individuals showing symptoms, and verified results from other sources that are uploaded to the University's portal. 

Results from Oct. 4-Oct. 17, 2020  

The test results above include 40 self-reported tests uploaded to the University portal, 15 positive results and 25 negative results. 

Message from President Nowaczyk: "This report of COVID-19 testing results shows that FSU has seen an increase in one of the measures we monitor, our positivity rate. This increase is not totally unexpected.  

Last week we reminded our campus community to continue to upload test results to our campus portal. While many external testing entities only provide records of positive tests, not negative ones, any positive test results we can confirm in our university community is valuable information that we are using to evaluate our status.  

Our positivity rate, as well as our rate in comparison to our local community, are two of multiple data points we are monitoring. While we continue to test below the county’s positivity rate, the increase in cases in our county and among the FSU community is a trend we are watching closely as we determine if responses or additional measures, such as the current ‘pause’ in athletic activity among some teams, are required.

My message to campus is an especially important one: Please be more vigilant than ever in wearing masks — and wearing them properly — social distancing in all situations on and off campus, and washing your hands frequently. As we spend more time indoors because of the cooler weather, these actions are very important for your safety and that of the campus community. We will continue to take actions on campus to keep the campus as safe as possible."

The total number of tests listed above excludes students or employees who since initial testing indicated they were NOT and had no plans to be on campus; who opted to work/study remotely following the first round of universal testing and will not be on campus; who left the University following the first round of universal testing; who tested positive for COVID-19 between July 1 and Oct. 3; who are employees of UMCES Appalachian Laboratory or students/employees at USMH; who were granted individual exemptions from testing for various reasons (approved leave, student teaching, unable to attend due to work schedule, etc.). 

Important Notes:  

INDIVIDUALS WITH POSITIVE RESULTS: All individuals with positive tests are immediately called by a healthcare professional and contract tracing by the Allegany Health Department begins. They are required to isolate away from campus. Read detailed information about Return to Class and Return to Work guidance.  

INDIVIDUALS NOT TESTED: Students in online-only programs, employees who will continue to work remotely and will not visit campus and students who moved to online-only classes for just this semester and will not visit campus will not be tested.  

IDENTIFICATION: To protect individuals’ private health information, FSU will not identify anyone diagnosed with COVID-19.  

SURVEILLANCE TESTING: Throughout the semester, the University will conduct surveillance testing of non-symptomatic individuals. Officials will closely monitor these results to determine possible further action.  

MONITORING: Additionally, all FSU students, faculty and staff participate in daily self-symptom monitoring by visiting FSU's COVID Check-In Portal. Visitors to campus are required to attest that they are free of COVID-19 symptoms.