COVID-19 at NIU

NIU reports lowest single-day coronavirus count since Aug. 28

By Daily Chronicle 7:48 PM

Mark Busch file photo – mbusch@shawmedia.com

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Mark Busch file photo – mbusch@shawmedia.com

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DeKALB – Northern Illinois University announced five new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, bringing the total number of cases on campus to 163, the lowest single-day count since Aug. 28.

The school also reported eight new recoveries, bringing the total of recoveries to 40.

All five new cases were in students. The school hasn't reported a case in an employee since Sept. 1, and just three cases have been reported in employees. Two of those have recovered.

• After big jump Tuesday, NIU reports lowest new coronavirus case total in a week Wednesday
• NIU coronavirus cases nearly double over four-day weekend with 73 new cases; total rises to 150

According to the school, 28% of its quarantine and isolation areas are in use.

The university welcomed students back to campus Aug. 19, and classes began Aug. 24. Students living on campus were required to submit proof of a negative COVID-19 test prior to move-in. NIU reported that of the 2,037 tested prior to move-in, 39 tested positive, and the university will welcome them back once their quarantine period is over.

The school also reported Tuesday that its surveillance testing program returned one positive case out of 231 tests last week. The program tests about 125 students a day at random as an attempt to better assess and catch viral outbreaks on campus more quickly to mitigate continued community spread. The positivity rate last week was 0.4%.

Although specific surveillance testing results will be reported weekly on Mondays, positive tests produced from the program will be included in daily statistics.

Daily COVID-19 case data from the DeKalb County Health Department may not reflect daily data from NIU because some students or employees may live outside the county and still test positive for the virus.

NIU staff are encouraged to get tested via state testing sites or their health care provider on their own. Students living off campus in Greek housing and otherwise also are not required to get tested, although anyone experiencing symptoms is asked to remain at home.

Students living on campus pay a $7.90 per credit hour health fee to use nasal swab testing services at Northwestern Medicine Student Health Center in the Health Services Building on campus.

Above is from:  https://www.shawmediaillinois.com/2020/09/10/niu-reports-lowest-single-day-coronavirus-count-since-aug-28/a6zz9hs/