SPRINGFIELD — Wittenberg University says in the last 10 days, 700 students and employees have been tested for COVID-19.
400 of those tests came during a campus mass testing event put on by the Ohio Army National Guard on Wednesday.
“It’s giving us a good surveillance of our community,” said Gary Williams, co-chair of the university’s COVID Response Team.
Wittenberg first-year McKenna Bruce said she got tested after being encouraged to do so as a student-athlete.
She said she’s hopeful that if everyone follows the precautions, teams can get back to playing sports – and as a high school graduate of the Class of 2020, she’s certainly used to having to make adjustments.
“I don’t think it’s perfect,” she said. “We all want our college experience but at the end of the day, I think the campus is better for it. We’re gonna stop the spread. We’re gonna be safer for us all and make sure we’re not taking it back to our families.”
University officials say those test results will factor into the decision about when students will return to online classes.
“The goal for us is to have everybody back in the classroom safe and healthy on September 21,” said Wittenberg University President Dr. Michael Frandsen.
Students temporarily began classes online Monday for a two-week period due to an increasing amount of positive cases on campus.
Frandsen said as of Wednesday, Wittenberg had 72 confirmed cases and another 100 students in quarantine. Many of those quarantined are believed to be close contacts of the confirmed cases.
Health officials say that older people tend to have between three and five close contacts, but college-aged individuals can have up to 15.
The Clark County Health Commissioner said with the new cases from Wittenberg, it’s possible Clark County will move into Level 3 ‘red’ this week on the Governor’s advisory scale but he’s glad that the university is taking proactive steps to stop the spread.
Dr. Frandsen is hopeful that Wittenberg’s small size will benefit them.
The University has close to 1,900 students and staff members on campus this year.
“People are looking out for one another,” he said. “That way we hear about cases faster. We hear when somebody’s not feeling well. It allows us to respond more quickly.”