9/22: COVID-19 dashboard updated with preliminary results from weekend testing

1,052 COVID-19 positive students have completed their isolation period and are no longer active cases
Close up of Pollock Gates

The Pollock Gates were a gift from the Class of 1903.

Credit: Curtis Chan

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State has updated its public COVID-19 dashboard with the University's on-demand testing and random testing results from tests administered during the period of Sept. 18 to 20, as well as new University testing results from the prior week. These numbers are evolving as many test results are still pending, which will then be validated and uploaded.

For the period of Sept. 18 to 20, the University Park campus received 68 positive on-demand test results and one positive random testing result from student testing.

Test results received with respect to tests conducted in the week of Sept. 11 to 17 have added 206 positive on-demand student testing results and 18 additional positive student random testing results for the University Park campus for that week. This brings the current total for the University Park campus for that week to 512 positive on-demand testing results and 32 positive random testing results from student testing.

The dashboard also indicates that 1,052 students at University Park have completed their isolation period.

There are no new employee positives recorded on any Penn State campus.

“We’re seeing a slight decline in our random testing data and in the number of students in our quarantine and isolation space, however we remain cautious and are continuing to monitor multiple data points,” said Kelly Wolgast, director of the University’s COVID-19 Operations Control Center. “We will be conferring with the Department of Health as they begin community testing later this week and we will continue to share data as we move forward.

“It’s important for Penn State students who are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or believe that they may have been a close contact of an infected individual to use the University’s health care and testing resources,” Wolgast added. “This will help facilitate contact tracing on campus and allow us and the Department of Health to more accurately assess the prevalence of COVID-19 in the local community surrounding University Park.”

At University Park, students with health concerns should call the 24/7 Advice Nurse at 814-863-4463 or the appointment line at 814-863-0774 to schedule an appointment. Commonwealth Campus students should contact their campus’ health care services.  

The dashboard indicates the following new results for Commonwealth Campuses:

  • Altoona: 11 on-demand testing positives for the period of Sept. 11 to 17, one random testing positive for the period of Sept. 4 to 10, and five random testing positives for the period of Sept. 11 to 17
  • Behrend (Erie): four on-demand testing positives for the period of Sept. 11 to 17
  • Berks: one random testing positive for the period of Sept. 11 to 17, and one random testing positive for the period of Sept. 18 to 20
  • Harrisburg: one random testing positive for the period of Sept. 11 to 17
  • Hershey: one random testing positive for the period of Sept. 4 to 10
  • New Kensington: one random testing positive for the period of Sept. 11 to 17
  • Scranton: one random testing positive for the period of Sept. 11 to 17
  • Shenango: one random testing positive for the period of Sept. 11 to 17

Based on the number of positive cases on the Altoona campus, the University established a pop-up on-demand testing center over the weekend. At Altoona and in all cases, students who test positive are being placed in isolation and, through robust contact tracing, close contacts of the infected individuals are being identified and must remain in quarantine for 14 days from the last contact with the infected individual. 

Penn State experts are continuing to track current trends and continuously monitoring local, state and national disease data. The University is working closely with officials from the Pennsylvania Departments of Education and Health, as well as local public and private organizations, to carefully monitor the prevalence of coronavirus in Centre County to determine if the virus is moving from the campus community to the local community and, if so, to develop strategies to mitigate such spread.

To continue on-campus learning, work and other activities through the fall semester, it’s vital that students, faculty and staff at all campuses and in adjacent communities do their part to limit the spread of COVID-19 — and support the effort to “Mask Up or Pack Up.” The University urges everyone to continue to wear face masks, practice social distancing and avoid gatherings entirely.

For the latest updates and information on Penn State’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, including frequently asked questions and information specific for students, faculty and staff, visit virusinfo.psu.edu.