University Health Services reported three positive COVID-19 case out of 3,592 tests thus far this week (October 19–25), resulting in a community positivity rate of 0.084%. The Massachusetts weekly positivity rate stands at 1.3%.
Currently, there are 28 BC undergraduates in isolation—21 in University isolation housing and seven recovering at home. A total of 186 undergraduates have recovered and returned to normal activities.
Since testing began on August 16, University Health Services has conducted 65,682 tests of BC community members with a total of 221 positive cases reported. Among undergrads, UHS has conducted 46,955 tests with 214 positives for a cumulative positivity rate of 0.33 percent. By comparison, Boston University has reported 188 total positive cases, Providence College 252, Northeastern University 139, and University of Notre Dame 947.
“We continue to have good momentum, and want to continue that momentum throughout the remainder of the semester, which will require all of us to avoid large gatherings, practice physical distancing, wear face masks, and wash our hands frequently,” said Director of University Health Services Dr. Douglas Comeau. “We are grateful for the efforts of all members of the BC community in following our testing, quarantine, and isolation protocols.”
On Monday, the University announced that it is giving students the option of leaving Boston College and the state of Massachusetts for Thanksgiving break and completing their courses and finals remotely from home, or remaining at BC or elsewhere within the Commonwealth for Thanksgiving and finishing the semester on campus. The decision was informed by a survey BC conducted the week before to ascertain students’ travel preferences for Thanksgiving break and the remainder of the fall semester. Student have until November 13 to report their decision to the Office of Residential Life.
In addition to daily symptomatic testing conducted through University Health Services and The Broad Institute, asymptomatic testing is performed on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, in the MAC Courts in the Margot Connell Recreation Center. Testing results are posted the following day upon receipt from The Broad Institute on the Reopening BC website: bc.edu/reopen.
The weekly community test totals and community positivity rates since testing began are as follows:
• 7,681 tests Week of August 16-23. Positivity Rate 0.04%
• 10,127 tests Week of August 24-30. Positivity Rate 0.08%
• 4,322 tests Week of August 31-September 6. Positivity Rate 0.60%
• 2,972 tests Week of September 9-13. Positivity Rate 2.46%
• 4,639 tests Week of September 14-20. Positivity Rate 0.37%
• 8,359 tests Week of September 21-27. Positivity Rate 0.49%
• 7,040 tests Week of September 28-October 4. Positivity Rate 0.18%
• 7,187 tests Week of October 5-11. Positivity rate 0.16%
• 9,760 tests Week of October 12-18. Positivity Rate 0.25%
University Communications / October 21, 2020