UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State’s COVID-19 dashboard has been updated to show the results of University-provided coronavirus testing at all campus locations through Feb. 4. Over the last seven days at University Park, 2,695 total tests have been administered, resulting in 250 positive cases, for a total seven-day positivity rate of 9.3%. This includes 241 student positive results from 2,479 student tests performed (9.7% positivity rate) and nine employee positives from 216 employee tests (4.2% positivity rate).
Testing at all other Penn State campuses over the last seven days has resulted in four total positive results, including:
- One student positive result and one employee positive result at Penn State Behrend.
- One employee positive result at Penn State Harrisburg.
- One student positive result at Penn State Hershey.
The dashboard also shows the current status of required spring 2021 pre-semester testing. Students at all campuses must have a negative COVID-19 test result from a University-provided test on file prior to, and within 72 hours of, their return to their campus community. To date, 13,271 pre-semester tests have been administered University-wide, resulting in 380 positive results and a positivity rate of 2.9%. Learn more about this required testing here.
For students who have already returned to their campus community, Penn State has testing options available to identify potential positive cases in a timely manner, and the University is conducting contact tracing and making use of quarantine and isolation capabilities to help limit virus spread.
At University Park there are currently 17 students in quarantine and isolation housing, representing 4% of the total 400-room quarantine and isolation capacity at Eastview Terrace. There is one student in isolation at Penn State Behrend; no other Penn State campuses have students in quarantine and isolation housing.
All students, faculty and staff are reminded to follow all public health guidelines to reduce the spread of COVID-19, including wearing a face mask at all times in campus buildings and outdoors when you can’t be physically distant from others; practicing physical distancing and remaining at least six feet apart; and avoiding large gatherings. In particular, students and employees are urged to avoid large viewing parties for this weekend’s Super Bowl, and instead watch the game with close family, roommates or a small “pod” of friends.
Students are expected to abide by all campus and local municipal policies and ordinances, and to follow the clearly outlined expectations and responsibilities of members of the campus community. Violations of the expected student behaviors could include sanctions ranging from warnings, to removal of campus housing, to suspension.
Detailed Information about the University’s spring semester COVID-19 testing plans and current testing options can be found on Penn State’s official coronavirus information website.