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Penn State Crosses 5,000 All-Time Student Coronavirus Cases

Twenty-four more University Park students have tested positive for the coronavirus, according to the latest update to Penn State’s COVID-19 Dashboard Tuesday.

Fourteen employees also tested positive, according to the update. That’s the most in a single report since testing began earlier this year.

Penn State’s added positives brought its all-time student case count to 5,005.

Now that instruction is fully remote for the remainder of the semester, administered tests have fallen sharply. All university-wide random surveillance testing is suspended until January, but on-demand testing remains available for those who need it.

Still, some testing continued. Penn State completed 405 on-demand tests and two random tests for students between December 11 and 13, resulting in 12 total positives. Five tests remain pending.

A large chunk of Tuesday’s reported positives came from tests that were previously awaiting results. About 200 tests were pending last Friday.

The university administered 71 on-demand tests and one random test for employees during that span, resulting in one total positive.

As you’d expect, Penn State’s Eastview Terrace quarantine and isolation spaces have freed up significantly. Currently, no students are in quarantine or isolation.

Penn State will continue offering Eastview Terrace spaces for affected individuals during its remote period.

Since testing began on August 7, Penn State has found 5,005 student coronavirus cases at University Park out of 85,485 administered tests. Additionally, 67 employees have tested positive so far.

According to the dashboard, 50 student cases remain active at University Park, while 4,955 are inactive. Fourteen employee cases are active, while 53 are not.

Penn State defines “inactive” as any case that’s more than 10 days old.

Penn State updates its dashboard with new testing statistics twice a week on Tuesdays and Fridays. The tool incorporates data random surveillance testing, symptomatic testing, and self-reported testing through University Health Services or Occupational Medicine.

Penn State’s data and Pennsylvania’s Department of Health data may vary due to lag between test collection and test results from various labs.

During Penn State’s remote period, Penn State will continue offering walk-up testing, although it’s moving to Hintz Family Alumni Center. The site will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays through January 18

Students remaining in the dorms are required to get tested weekly until the spring semester begins.

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About the Author

Matt DiSanto

Matt proudly served as Onward State’s managing editor for two years until graduating from Penn State in May 2022. Now, he’s off in the real world doing real things. Send him an email ([email protected]) or follow him on Twitter (@mattdisanto_) to stay in touch.

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