Since Jan. 1, the University of Idaho has tested over 6,023 students and employees for COVID-19, returning 107 positive results and a positivity rate of 1.78%, according to its case count page.
After conducting mass testing at the start of the semester, the university plans to continue with surveillance testing, which is useful in identifying outbreaks early on.
According to an email from President Scott Green, a small number of students enrolled in in-person classes remain untested.
“Steps for how to request an exemption or obtain a test have been sent repeatedly to these students,” Green stated. “Their lack of testing puts people around them at risk, so it is important for us to take this requirement seriously.”
In 2020, the university returned 23,559 test results with a positivity rate of 2.72%. Those statistics reflect both employees and students tested.
While UI reports the number of results received through its testing protocols, this is not inclusive of all positive cases in people associated with the institution.
Testing is available through appointments at the Student Recreation Center.
Angela Palermo can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @apalermotweets.