Hospitalizations at U.Va Health this week continue to increase, per the University’s COVID-19 tracker. The seven-day average for new hospitalizations as of Thursday was 19.86. This followed an average of 21.71 Monday — the highest average since the tracker began updating in August 2020.
Before hospitalization averages began to increase Dec. 16, the highest seven-day average hospitalization rate was 10.57 on Sept. 10 and 12. 14 patients were admitted to U.Va. Health with COVID-19 Thursday, bringing the current total of COVID-19 hospitalizations to 125.
The weekly average of COVID-19 cases per day held firm this week for both students and faculty, with an average of 47 cases between Sunday and Thursday.
There are currently 541 active cases of COVID-19 within the University community, which brings the total case count since the beginning of the fall semester to 2,682. Of the 541 cases, 275 are students while 266 are members of the faculty and staff.
The seven-day average positivity rate this week was 13.32 percent. The 17.1 percent positivity rate among faculty and staff in the same time frame was significantly higher than the student positivity rate of 11.59 percent.
The seven-day average of individuals tested per day was 334.6 Thursday, compared to 280.6 Sunday. Students make up a vast majority of those tested, with an average seven-day testing rate of 229.3 students and 105.3 faculty and staff. This number only includes tests administered through U.Va Health or LetsGetChecked and does not take into account other tests.
The University is currently at 3 percent occupancy for isolation rooms. Isolation rooms are for those who have tested positive for COVID-19. Quarantine rooms are no longer being tracked, since those who may have been exposed to COVID-19 are no longer required to quarantine, per new University and CDC guidelines.
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 by Jan. 14.
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, 72.4 percent of individuals have received at least one dose of the vaccine and 65.9 percent of individuals are fully vaccinated. In addition to those fully vaccinated, 36.1 percent have been vaccinated with a third booster dose.
Magill and Davis outlined plans for the spring semester last week, including 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 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.
The University is currently at 3 percent occupancy for isolation rooms. Isolation rooms are for those who have tested positive for COVID-19. Quarantine rooms are no longer being tracked, since those who may have been exposed to COVID-19 are no longer required to quarantine, per new University and CDC guidelines.
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 by Jan. 14.
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, 72.4 percent of individuals have received at least one dose of the vaccine and 65.9 percent of individuals are fully vaccinated. In addition to those fully vaccinated, 36.1 percent have been vaccinated with a third booster dose.
Magill and Davis outlined plans for the spring semester last week, including 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 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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