University to begin updating dashboard on Tuesdays and Thursdays beginning week of May 10
Beginning the week of May 10, the University’s COVID-19 dashboard will be updated twice weekly on Tuesdays and Thursdays and will follow that schedule for the remainder of the summer.Image: Chris Koleno
Penn State COVID-19 dashboard updated with testing data through May 6
May 07, 2021
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. Penn State’s COVID-19 dashboard has been updated to show the results of University-provided coronavirus testing at all campus locations through May 6. Over the last seven days at University Park, 1,663 total tests have been administered, resulting in 55 positive cases, for a total seven-day positivity rate of 3.3%. This includes 52 student positive results from 1,580 student tests performed (3.3% positivity rate) and three employee positives from 83 employee tests (3.6% positivity rate).
Testing, contact tracing, isolation and quarantine, and masking to remain in effect
Penn State’s COVID-19 mitigation strategy for the summer includes vaccine consideration, masking, testing, contact tracing, and quarantine and isolation.Image: Penn State
Penn State details May and summer semester COVID-19 mitigation plans
May 06, 2021
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State’s COVID-19 Operations Control Center (COCC) has developed a comprehensive COVID-19 mitigation strategy for the transitional month of May and the summer 2021 semester for all campuses that includes vaccine consideration, masking, testing, contact tracing, and quarantine and isolation.
“While the May and summer testing strategies will look different from spring 2021 and fall 2020, testing is still a critical component of our mitigation strategy as the pandemic remains complex and ever-changing,” said Kelly Wolgast, director of the COCC. “We are optimistic for the future with the widespread rollout of
The
Testing Pathway Program requires fully vaccinated students, faculty, and staff to participate in asymptomatic testing only once a month, while those who are not vaccinated against COVID-19 must test once a week.
“I hope everyone who is able will choose to vaccinate, but we want all members of our community to have a safe option that will work for them,” said Gillian Ice, special assistant to the president for public health operations.
Ice explained that the University learned a lot this year about managing COVID-19 on its campuses. Regular asymptomatic testing was a key component of that success, allowing quick response before clusters of cases became outbreaks. “We successfully kept cases low and never had to interrupt classes, which many other universities were forced to do,” she said.