COVID-19 Testing Results from Oct. 18-Oct. 31

Nov 3, 2020 5:12 PM

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 Nov. 3, 2020 – data will be updated regularly. Validated results reported in the tables below include: 

• universal testing, 
• surveillance testing, 
• Brady Health Center testing of individuals showing symptoms, and
• verified results from other sources that are uploaded to the University's portal as noted.

In the interest of transparency, in response to requests, and to be consistent with other USM schools, moving forward, FSU will report the institutional data in two categories:

UNIVERSITY-ADMINISTERED TEST RESULTS: The University-administered testing information — this is the information many other USM schools report as their positivity rate, and it is the measurement used by the Maryland Department of Health in its campus evaluations. These include tests of asymptomatic individuals and those with symptoms who are tested at Brady Health.

AGGREGATE TEST RESULTS (INCLUDES SELF-REPORTED): This second number in each column is the aggregate testing result number for the two-week period and reflects the consistent measure we have reported biweekly throughout the semester. This number includes self-reported positive COVID-19 cases, which tend to include primarily positive tests, not negative ones, because of the difficulty in receiving documentation of negative tests from external testing entities. However, any positive test results we can confirm in our university community is valuable information that we are using to evaluate our status. This is the number we have reported since the beginning of the semester. Moving forward we will continue to provide uploaded self-reported testing data within our aggregate number each period.

Results from Oct. 18–31, 2020

Additional information:

• The aggregate testing data above includes 50 self-reported tests uploaded to the University portal: 23 positive results and 27 negative results.
• Since the beginning of the semester, FSU has administered more than 9,200 COVID-19 tests, including two universal testing events, biweekly surveillance and cluster testing, weekly athletics testing and testing of symptomatic individuals at Brady Health.
• Another indicator being monitored is disease prevalence, or the number of active cases being monitored. Brady Health is currently monitoring 26 positive cases. Contact tracing has confirmed that the majority of our cases are in clusters of socially intertwined individuals and are not campus wide. Our positivity rate of FSU-administered tests for last week (3.48% for 7-day period) also supported that conclusion. In addition, our campus wastewater sampling data is supporting testing trends.

Exclusions from asymptomatic testing: 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 during a designated period; 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.).

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

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.   

FSU continues to emphasize that individual precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 – wearing a face mask in all interactions with others, remaining socially distanced (6 feet) from any other person and frequent hand-washing – must continue. Daily use of the online check-in though the FSU COVID Check-In Portal is required of anyone on campus.