Penn's COVID-19 cases among undergraduates increased from 55 to 111 in the last week of January.
The undergraduate positivity rate increased from 1.05% to 1.91% from Jan. 24 to Jan. 30. Penn administered 17,814 total tests last week, resulting in 147 total positive cases. The overall positivity rate increased from 0.87% to 1.09%.
There are currently 222 students with COVID-19 in isolation, and 388 students in quarantine who were exposed to COVID-19 but remain healthy. The number of students in isolation and quarantine is an increase from the previous week, which saw 161 students in isolation and 216 students in quarantine. The available on-campus isolation capacity is 83.4%, a decrease from the 90.3% capacity available during the week of Jan. 17 to Jan. 23.
The University administered 318 tests for symptomatic individuals and individuals who had close contact with someone with COVID-19. These tests account for 31 positive tests and a 11.92% positivity rate.
The University continues to operate at Level 2: Heightened Awareness due to conditions that suggest increased exposure of students or COVID-19 cases.
Undergraduates living on and off campus are required to schedule saliva-based screening tests twice a week on pre-assigned days. Graduate students and faculty living on campus must schedule screening testing twice a week on days of their choice, and off-campus graduate students and faculty who visit campus must be tested once a week.
The Quiet Period, which asked students to limit non-essential movement and organized activities, ended on February 1. Students are still expected to follow the Campus Compact, and students and faculty must continue to perform daily symptom checks through the PennOpen Pass system.
Penn has also begun a slow reopening of facilities on campus. The Pottruck Health and Fitness Center will begin a pilot program for select students who adhere to the Campus Compact. Students can now reserve individual study time in the Van Pelt-Dietrich Library Center, which is offering limited seating.
There are currently seven operational testing facilities open to the Penn community during the spring semester.
The Daily Pennsylvanian is an independent, student-run newspaper. Please consider making a donation to support the coverage that shapes the University. Your generosity ensures a future of strong journalism at Penn.
Donate