The total number of active cases of COVID-19 decreased from 72 to 56 this week, according to the University’s COVID-19 tracker. The weekly average of new cases per day decreased from seven for the weeks of Sept. 26 and Oct. 3 to four between Sunday and Thursday.
Of the 56 active cases of COVID-19 within the University community, 33 are students. The other 23 cases are members of the faculty and staff. 369 students and 314 members of the faculty and staff have reported a positive case since the start of the fall semester Aug. 24. The eight new cases Thursday bring the total case count for the fall semester to 683.
The seven-day average positivity rate for students, faculty and staff increased from 1.27 percent last week to 1.37 percent this week. As of Thursday, the seven-day average positivity rate in the student population was 1.3 percent, compared to 1.47 percent for faculty and staff.
Five patients were admitted to U.Va. Health with COVID-19 Thursday, bringing the current total of COVID-19 hospitalizations to 54, in comparison to 63 last Thursday.
The University is currently at zero percent occupancy for quarantine rooms and two percent occupancy for isolation rooms. Quarantine rooms are for those who may have been exposed to COVID-19, while isolation rooms are for those who have tested positive for COVID-19.
The seven-day average for tests administered this week dropped from 466.9 tests Sunday to 322.3 tests Thursday. Students continue to make up a majority of those tested, with an average seven-day testing rate of 176.3 students, compared to 146 for faculty and staff. This number only includes tests administered through U.Va Health or LetsGetChecked and does not take into account other tests.
In order to return to residential learning, students were required to either submit proof of full COVID-19 vaccination or provide documentation of an approved medical or religious exemption. Faculty and staff however were not required — but encouraged — to get vaccinated before returning to in-person teaching. 2.4 percent of students have documented vaccination exemptions, while 97 percent of students and 92 percent of faculty at the University are fully vaccinated.
All students living in the Charlottesville and Albemarle area who are not currently vaccinated are required to report for testing on a weekly basis. If a student fails to comply with mandatory testing, one of four punishments increasing in severity will be instituted.
Provost Liz Magill and Chief Operating Officer J.J. Davis sent an email to the University community Oct. 1 notifying them of the administration’s decision to extend its indoor mask mandate. University leaders said they plan to monitor COVID-19 cases for those living and learning on Grounds throughout the month, and will issue another update on the policy Nov. 1.
Students who are symptomatic can make an appointment on their HealthyHoos portal to get tested this Saturday between noon and 4 p.m. at the Student Health and Wellness building. Faculty, staff and students can also undergo voluntary asymptomatic testing during walk-in testing hours from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Scott Stadium and the Emmet/Ivy parking garage.
The University’s COVID-19 tracker is updated every weekday at 4 p.m.
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