Coronavirus: UD reports positive cases as students return; ongoing testing program to be announced

DAYTON — Continued testing of students, faculty, and staff members ahead of the start of classes at the University of Dayton has revealed about a dozen positive COVID-19 cases. But school leaders indicate these results were anticipated as a part of the university’s phased move-in approach.

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“We understand that some people may be concerned about the number of positive cases that are being reported. Please be assured these cases have been identified as part of our testing program, and each student has returned home to isolate,” university leaders said in a campus-wide message Tuesday.

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As of Tuesday, 14 active cases were reported including 13 students and one employee, according to a UD website tracking COVID-19 cases. The positivity rate on campus from these tests is less than 1 percent, school officials said. Over 5,100 students have checked in for the fall semester, as of Tuesday.

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“Additionally, contact tracing has worked well to identify students who need to be tested and quarantined, and this process has been aided by the excellent test return times, less than 24 hours, from our partners at CompuNet and Premier Health,” school leaders said in the email.

The university will announce in the coming days a ongoing testing program for students, faculty, and staff.

“There is increasing evidence that ongoing testing is critical to the success of congregate communities such as college campuses,” campus leaders said.

UD’s announcement comes as two prominent universities, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the University of Notre Dame, sent students home just after reopening campus due to COVID-19 cluster outbreaks.

“This is a reminder to us all that we are susceptible to similar outbreaks and a heartbreaking closure of (UD) if we gather in large numbers and ignore other safety protocols. A significant increase in positive cases or a large outbreak would force the University and public health to act,” school leaders said.

UD officials encouraged students and staff to continue to practice the health protocols in place, including wearing facial coverings, maintaining social distancing requirements, not gathering in groups more than 10 people, and others.

Cox Media Group