University of Idaho received 3,642 COVID-19 test results this week, according to an email sent to students, faculty and staff. Of these results, 2.2% are COVID-19 positive.
UI hopes to have tested most, if not all, in-person Moscow-based students by the end of this week. The surge is a re-testing effort following a rise in COVID-19 cases in the Greek Life community.
The UI COVID-19 website states 2,499 additional students were tested by Oct. 9, with a positivity rate of 2.96%. Additional results have been processed since then, thus the discrepancy between the website and the email.
The email addressed a recent recommendation from the White House Coronavirus Task Force, which encouraged UI transition to online instruction. The data cited in this recommendation, an 80.7% COVID-19 positivity rate among 18- to 24-year-olds in Latah County, is incorrect, the email stated.
“The White House working group would have no way of knowing that we are a masked community, have our own lab, that we aggressively test asymptomatic students and employees, that we model the positive cases and respond to results, that we monitor and respond to wastewater sampling, or that the positive cases we have experienced were isolated to particular living groups,” the email stated.
UI will move forward with recommendations and data from Public Health – Idaho North Central Distract and Gritman Medical Center instead, the email stated.
Three fraternities and sororities are currently quarantined, compared to 14 last week. The number of students in isolation has also decreased. Thirty one Greek Life and Residence Life students are in isolation, down from 59 last week.
UI instructors can continue to choose how to deliver classes this week, but should return to the pre-determined delivery method starting Oct. 19. Like last week, staff should work with their supervisors to find the best work arrangement for their unit.
Students who have not been tested for COVID-19 since Sept. 28 and are taking in-person classes in Moscow will not be eligible to attend in-person starting Oct, 19. Symptomatic students should email [email protected] to set up a test at Gritman Medical Center’s Martin Wellness Center. Asymptomatic students can schedule a test at the Student Recreation Center.
Lex Miller can be reached at [email protected]