10/27: COVID-19 dashboard updated with preliminary results from weekend testing

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State has updated its public COVID-19 dashboard with the University's on-demand testing and random testing results from tests administered during the period of Oct. 23 to 25, as well as new University testing results from the prior week. The few pending results will be validated and uploaded when completed. As of Oct. 27 at University Park, there are 276 active student cases and 3,506 students have completed their isolation period and are no longer active cases.

For the period of Oct. 23 to 25, the University Park campus received 37 positive on-demand test results and four positive random testing results from student testing.

“We are seeing the number of positive results increase slightly and we are watching this carefully,” said Penn State President Eric J. Barron. “As we discussed during our webinar last week, now is the time to double down on our efforts in masking, social distancing and avoiding large gatherings. Every single Penn Stater needs to act responsibly and take these simple measures over the next few weeks so that we can keep our local communities safe, minimize this increase and send our students home healthy on Nov. 20.”

Test results received with respect to tests conducted in the week of Oct. 16 to 22 have added 88 positive on-demand student testing results and seven additional positive student random testing results for the University Park campus for that week. This brings the current total for the University Park campus for that week to 215 positive on-demand testing results and 20 positive random testing results from student testing.

Among employees at University Park, there are two new positive on-demand testing results for the period of Oct. 16 to 22.

Importance of early testing

“As we near the end of on-campus learning for the semester, it’s important for students who are experiencing symptoms to seek out testing at University Health Services,” said Kelly Wolgast, director of the COVID-19 Operations Control Center. “If a student is found to be positive for COVID-19 now, they can complete their isolation period prior to our campuses going to remote learning. However, if a student is COVID-19 positive now and waits to take a test until they are ready to depart campus, that test will likely still show a positive result, even if the student is no longer infectious. The student will then need to isolate for 10 days, potentially interrupting their plans to depart campus. The same applies when returning to campus in the spring. We are urging our students to take the right steps to get tested early.”

University Park On-Demand Student Testing Positive Results by Week:

University Park Random Student Testing Positive Results by Week:

Commonwealth Campus Test Results

The dashboard indicates the following new student testing results at Commonwealth Campuses:

• Altoona: two on-demand testing positives and one random testing positive for the period of Oct. 16 to 22, and two random testing positives for the period of Oct. 23 to 25
• Brandywine: one random testing positive for the period of Oct. 23 to 25
• Harrisburg: one random testing positive for the period of Oct. 16 to 22
• Mont Alto: one random testing positive for the period of Oct. 23 to 25

The dashboard indicates that Penn State Abington had one on-demand testing positive among employees for the period of Oct. 16 to 22, and Penn State Altoona had one random testing positive among employees for the period of Oct. 23 to 25.

All students who test positive are being placed in isolation and, through systematic University contact tracing, close contacts of the infected individuals are being identified and must remain in quarantine for 14 days from the last contact with the infected individual. 

Students who are concerned about COVID-19 exposure are urged to utilize the University’s health care resources to seek out testing and facilitate contact tracing. Students at University Park who are not experiencing symptoms but want to be tested because of possible virus exposure or other reasons may access the walk-up testing site on the main concourse of Pegula Ice Arena from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days a week. University Park students who are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms should not visit the walk-up testing site and instead seek testing at University Health Services by using myUHS or calling the appointment line at 814-863-0774. Commonwealth Campus students should contact their campus’ health care services. Any student on any campus with health concerns should call the 24/7 Advice Nurse at 814-863-4463.

Penn State experts are continuing to track current trends and continuously monitoring local, state and national disease data. The University is working closely with officials from the Pennsylvania Departments of Education and Health, as well as local public and private organizations, to carefully monitor the prevalence of coronavirus in Centre County to determine if the virus is moving from the campus community to the local community and, if so, to develop strategies to mitigate such spread.

To continue on-campus learning, work and other activities through the fall semester, it’s vital that students, faculty and staff at all campuses and in adjacent communities do their part to limit the spread of COVID-19 — and support the effort to “Mask Up or Pack Up.” The University urges everyone to continue to wear face masks, practice social distancing and avoid gatherings.

For the latest updates and information on Penn State’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, including frequently asked questions and information specific for students, faculty and staff, visit virusinfo.psu.edu.