Monday’s update said that there were only 99 active cases in the University community, down from the 219 reported last Thursday.
The decreasing daily average comes on the heels of the University’s Sept. 23 implementation of strict COVID-19 guidelines which mandate mask-wearing, restrict travel to and from Charlottesville and prohibit gatherings larger than five.
The announcement comes less than a week before the deadline to drop a class, and students must decide to opt into the CR/GC/NC system about a month before final exams.
The percentage of quarantine rooms filled by students has increased since Monday to 21 percent. Conversely, the isolation rooms occupancy has dropped to eight percent.
The University’s Faculty Senate voted Monday on whether it would advance discussion of an application-based CR/NC/NGCC grading system for the fall semester to a discussion and vote at its Oct. 20 full Senate meeting.
The University issued refunds throughout the end of September to on-Grounds students for housing and all-access dining plans, as well as to those who chose to stay home for the fall semester.
Despite the unusual circumstances, the Class of 2024 is still 40 students over the University’s enrollment target of 3,750.
Last week, Fresh Food Company at Newcomb Hall stopped staffing soft drink fountains after previously using plexiglass and stationing employees to fill cups for students.
Individuals have abided by masking and sanitation requirements — among other new regulations — and outdoor IM-Rec activities and facilities have grown in popularity.
The University remains concerned that the number of positive COVID-19 cases are “still a little high."
Since students and faculty returned to Grounds for partial in-person instruction earlier this month, the UJC and ODOS have begun fielding cases of student noncompliance with COVID-19 related regulations.
45 individuals tested positive on Friday, ten on Saturday and zero on Sunday. This is the first time zero cases have been reported on any given day since data collection on the tracker began.
Currently, the University is offering an in-person component — completely in-person, or a hybrid or remote option — in approximately 30 percent of its classes overall.
Since the pandemic began, hate crimes against Asians in the U.S. have increased and stricter regulations have been enforced against international students, particularly those from China.
Last week, 1,168 COVID-19 tests were performed on student-athletes between Sept. 21 and Sept. 27, comprising 26 percent of the 4,488 tests performed in the Thomas Jefferson Health District in the same time period.
The average number of cases this week has been approximately 27.75 cases per day — a slight increase from last week’s average of 23 cases per day.
Ryan said that the University will consider implementing additional regulations on Lawn residents before the next academic year and before the next class of students moves onto the Lawn.
With just 27 percent of classes offering an in-person component this semester, online exams pose a challenge for students and faculty.
Students in dorms with breakouts are placed in mandatory quarantine for at least 24 hours while they are tested.
With the Oct. 13 voter registration deadline approaching, Charlottesville and student groups are working to ensure that every student has the ability to vote this November.
