University of Idaho President C. Scott Green shared optimism about the accomplishments of the university’s COVID-19 testing system in an email to faculty, staff and students Monday. UI community members were also encouraged to limit time spent in Whitman County until the spread of COVID-19 in the area is better controlled.
In the email, Green encouraged those who traveled over Labor Day weekend to be re-tested. Gritman Medical Center nurses will be at the Student Recreation Center Tuesday and Wednesday to offer this testing. Anyone interested in being re-tested can sign up by clicking the link in the email.
The email stated UI has completed over 8,500 tests, 1.11% of which have been positive. UI’s Institute for Modeling Collaboration and Innovation (IMCI) created a model predicting the positivity rate for UI’s initial COVID-19 screening would be 1.06%. According to the email, the actual rate was just 0.02% higher.
None of the 168 student-athletes who were re-tested for COVID-19 last week were positive, but of the students in two residence halls who were re-tested after COVID-19 was found in the wastewater, six tested positive for COVID-19, the email stated.
All students in Housing and Residence Life complied with testing requirements, the email stated. Only 31 students have been housed in the on-campus isolation area since testing began. There are four students in this isolation area now.
“In addition, the entries on the daily lists of students ineligible to attend class are dwindling as we settle into the semester,” the email stated. “Faculty members recently helped the university move over 250 students from the list who still identified as needing to be tested, confirming with us that the students have made alternative arrangements, including participating in their classes remotely.”
Since Aug. 16, Campus Security has only received eight calls from faculty and staff about COVID-19 protocol non-compliance, the email stated. Other examples of student responsibility, including those with fevers not going to dining areas on campus, were also mentioned in the email.
Further information on UI’s COVID-19 response can be found on UI’s COVID-19 website.
Lex Miller can be reached at [email protected]
Christian
The university’s contract with Moscow PD is up for renewal this month. Canceling this contract would save millions. Doesn’t UI need to save money?? MPD has not lived up to their end if the contract from the beginning. END THE CONTRACT!! There are better ways to protect our UI family!!