University administrators urged students to remain vigilant in following public health guidelines particularly after a student was hospitalized due to severe symptoms and two students tested positive for the B.1.1.7 COVID-19 variant since arriving on campus this semester.
The decision comes after the University observed that the majority of students who have been exposed to COVID-19 end up testing positive on their 10th day in quarantine or before, if they test positive at all.
Some experts believe that those who have a higher exposure to COVID-19 should be first in line, while others believe that people who face a higher risk of death should be prioritized.
To limit the spread of the virus, the University is launching the Penn Cares COVID-19 response program, which requires undergraduates to get tested for COVID-19 twice per week at one of several locations on campus.