9/29: COVID-19 dashboard updated with preliminary results from weekend testing

1,774 students at University Park have completed their isolation period and are no longer active cases
Sun rises over West halls near Shrine
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. 25 to 27, 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. 25 to 27, the University Park campus received 92 positive on-demand test results and four positive random testing results from student testing.

Test results received with respect to tests conducted in the week of Sept. 18 to 24 have added 246 positive on-demand student testing results and six 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 664 positive on-demand testing results and 25 positive random testing results from student testing.

The dashboard also indicates that 1,774 students at University Park have completed their isolation period and are no longer active cases.

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

At Penn State Altoona, there are 35 new on-demand testing positive results and seven new random testing positives among students for the period of Sept. 18 to 24. Based on the number of positive cases on the Altoona campus, the University last week established a pop-up, on-demand testing center on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 19 and 20, and on Friday, Sept. 25. During that testing and in the days following, the campus has focused its efforts on contacting and testing students who are currently in quarantine because they were in close contact with an individual who tested positive. The higher number of positive cases on the campus was anticipated as a result of the testing strategy focused on these individuals.

The dashboard indicates the following new student testing results at other Commonwealth Campuses:

  • Behrend (Erie): two on-demand testing positives and one random testing positive for the period of Sept. 18 to 24 and one random testing positive for the period of Sept. 11 to 17
  • Beaver: one random testing positive for the period of Sept. 11 to 17
  • Berks: two random testing positives for the period of Sept. 18 to 24
  • DuBois: one random testing positive for the period of Sept. 18 to 24
  • Fayette: one random testing positive for the period of Sept. 18 to 24

All 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. 

Students who are concerned about COVID-19 exposure are urged to utilize the University’s health care resources to seek out testing and facilitate contact tracing. Students with health concerns should call the 24/7 Advice Nurse at 814-863-4463. At University Park, students can make appointments with University Health Services by using myUHS or calling the appointment line at 814-863-0774. Commonwealth Campus students should contact their campus’ health care services.  

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.