Boston College experienced its most favorable weekly COVID-19 test results since the first two weeks of testing in August, with a total of 13 cases reported during the week of September 28 - October 4, out of 7,040 tests, including 5,281 tests of undergraduates. BC’s weekly positivity rate was 0.18 percent, compared to the Massachusetts state positivity rate of 1.1%.
Thus far this week, Boston College has reported four positive cases out of 1,072 tests performed, including 656 undergraduates. Currently, there are 20 BC undergraduates in isolation—11 in University isolation housing and nine recovering at home. A total of 158 undergraduates have recovered and returned to normal activities.
Since testing began on August 16, the University has conducted 46,212 tests of BC community members, including 31,269 tests of undergraduates, with a total of 185 positive cases, including 180 undergrads. By comparison, Boston University has reported 138 total positive cases, Providence College 233, Northeastern University 105, and University of Notre Dame 785.
“The continued decline in positive cases is good news, with this week’s numbers being especially promising,” said Director of University Health Services Dr. Douglas Comeau. “We will continue our strategy of quickly identifying and testing individuals who are deemed to be close contacts of anyone testing positive, and will follow our quarantine and isolation protocols to prevent the spread of the virus.”
In addition to daily symptomatic testing conducted through University Health Services and The Broad Institute, asymptomatic testing is performed Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays throughout the semester in the MAC Courts in the Margot Connell Recreation Center. Testing results are posted upon receipt from The Broad Institute Tuesdays through Fridays 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%
University Communications / October 6, 2020