Penn State announced Thursday that just five University Park students have so far produced positive COVID-19 tests through the university’s on-arrival testing program.

Tests were administered to 1,050 of the 4,664 students who moved into on-campus housing between August 16 and 18. That evens out to a positivity rate of less than half a percent.

Three employees have also tested positive for the virus in the past seven days.

Only students who have not shared their vaccination status with the university or have not tested positive for the virus in the past 90 days were required to complete on-arrival testing. Some fully vaccinated students may have needed to take the test if they did not submit their status before August 9.

Students who tested positive via a rapid test upon arrival could either return home for 10 days or enter on-campus isolation for 10 days. COVID-19-positive individuals were also instructed to take a more accurate PCR test, which can take up to 48 hours to yield results. A negative PCR result would allow them to leave isolation.

Unvaccinated students are required to take COVID-19 tests on a weekly basis this fall. Noncompliance can result in suspension or termination from Penn State.

A recent survey revealed 88% of undergraduate and graduate Penn State respondents are fully vaccinated. However, the survey was voluntary and did not require any proof of vaccination, so there’s likely some decent self-selection bias.

Centre County’s seven-day average of daily positive COVID-19 cases was 17 as of August 19.