The weekly average of COVID-19 cases per day over the weekend decreased for both students and faculty, with a weekly average of 17 cases in comparison to 49 cases per day last Sunday to Thursday. Hospitalization rates remain high, with 122 individuals hospitalized for COVID-19 currently.
There are currently 428 active cases of COVID-19 within the University community. Of the 428 cases, 174 are students while 254 are members of the faculty and staff, according to the University’s COVID-19 tracker.
The seven-day average positivity rate this weekend was 17.81 percent, marking the seventh consecutive day with an average positivity over 15 percent. The 25 percent positivity rate among faculty and staff in the same time frame was more than double the student positivity rate of 12.61 percent.
The seven-day average of individuals tested per day was 279.1 Sunday, with 70 tests administered Sunday and 59 administered Saturday. The seven-day average of individuals tested per day for students surpassed that of faculty and staff this weekend, with students averaging 162 tests per day compared to 117.1 for faculty and staff. This number only includes tests administered through U.Va Health or LetsGetChecked and does not take into account other tests.
Fourteen patients were admitted to U.Va. Health with COVID-19 Thursday, dropping the current total of COVID-19 hospitalizations to 122. The seven-day average for new hospitalizations as of Sunday was 20.43. Last Wednesday and Friday marked the highest average since the tracker began updating in August 2020 with an average of 20.71. Before hospitalization averages began to increase Dec. 16, the highest seven-day average hospitalization rate was 10.57 Sept. 10 and 12.
The University is currently at zero percent occupancy for quarantine rooms and zero 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.
In order to return to residential learning, students were required to either submit proof of full COVID-19 vaccination with a booster shot or provide documentation of an approved medical or religious exemption.
While the University previously required all faculty and staff to be fully vaccinated — and the University announced a booster requirement prior to the start of the spring semester, the University will no longer require faculty and staff to be vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment, per an email sent Jan. 19 to University employees by University President Jim Ryan, Provost Liz Magill, Chief Operation Officer J.J. Davis and K. Craig Kent, executive vice president for health affairs.
Following the previous Jan. 14 deadline for students and employees to submit either proof of vaccination or proof of a medical or religious exemption, 97 percent of students are fully vaccinated while 85 percent of employees have received booster shots.
In the Blue Ridge Health District, 72 percent of individuals have received at least one dose of the vaccine and 65.6 percent of individuals are fully vaccinated. In addition to those fully vaccinated, 34.4 percent have been vaccinated with a third booster dose.
On Jan. 14, Provost Liz Magill and Chief Operating Officer J.J. Davis emailed the University community to provide notice of new public health measures taking effect. The plans include a temporary ban on all food and beverages at University-affiliated events, a mandatory five-day isolation for those who test positive for COVID-19 in accordance with updated Center for Disease Control guidance and a continuation of the mask mandate for all indoor spaces.
University leaders decided to retain last semester’s testing policies, which require weekly prevalence testing for unvaccinated students, faculty and staff. Asymptomatic students, faculty and staff may choose to schedule COVID-19 tests through Time2Test.
Asymptomatic testing is currently located in the basement of Newcomb Hall by appointment only Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 8 a.m. through 4:30 p.m. and Wednesday 7:30 a.m. through 4:30 p.m. Asymptomatic employee testing is available at the Jefferson Park Medical Office Building on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7 a.m. through 9 a.m. Students experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 should schedule testing through their HealthyHoos portal, whereas faculty members experiencing possible COVID-19 symptoms should contact Employee Health.
The University’s COVID-19 tracker is updated every weekday at 4 p.m.
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