Penn State’s COVID-19 Cases Hit New 12-Month High
For the second straight week, Penn State reported a yearly high in COVID-19 cases at its University Park campus.
From January 10 to 16, the university logged 523 COVID-19 cases on its COVID-19 Dashboard — 442 among students and 81 among employees. That figure easily broke last week’s 434 cases, which itself was a record high dating back to last January.
Penn State administered 7,336 total tests between January 10 and 16, which resulted in a 7.1% positivity rate. Although that mark tops most weeks over the past year, it’s lower than January 3 to 6 (10.5%) and December 27 to January 2 (13%).
Effective this spring, the university no longer provides quarantine and isolation capacity figures on its COVID-19 Dashboard. A Penn State spokesperson said the data was removed from the online reporting tool since the university “did not have major use” of Eastview Terrace quarantine and isolation facilities.
Overall, Penn State’s COVID-19 cases have surged since the university reported traces of the virus’s omicron variant on campus back in December. The university has reported at least 1,216 cases among University Park students and employees. That mark is consistent with trends in Pennsylvania, which recorded 18,207 new cases on Tuesday as virus spread remains elevated.
About 89.7% of students and 84.4% of employees at University Park are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to Penn State’s COVID-19 Dashboard. The university doesn’t report (or ask for) booster shot coverage.
Only unvaccinated students and employees are required to get tested for COVID-19 each week. This spring, Penn State is revoking Canvas access for students who miss mandatory weekly testing appointments. Previously, unvaccinated students were placed on interim suspension for skipping three straight testing opportunities.
This semester, walk-up COVID-19 testing is available at the White Building on the following schedule:
- Mondays: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Tuesdays: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Wednesdays: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Thursdays: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Fridays: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Saturdays: noon to 5 p.m.
- Sundays: noon to 5 p.m.
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