York County News

Penn State York issued the following announcement.

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 Nov. 6 to 8, as well as new University testing results from the prior week. The few pending results will be validated and uploaded when completed. As of Nov. 9 at University Park, there are 275 active student cases, up from 232 cases at the last update on Nov. 6, and 3,946 students have completed their isolation period and are no longer active cases.

For the period of Nov. 6 to 8, the University Park campus received 62 positive on-demand test results and two positive random testing results from student testing.

Test results received with respect to tests conducted in the week of Oct. 30 to Nov. 5 have added 81 positive on-demand student testing results and four 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 217 positive on-demand testing results and 13 positive random testing results from student testing.

Among employees at the University Park campus, there are three new random testing positive results for the period of Oct. 30 to Nov. 5 and one new random testing positive result for the period of Nov. 6 to 8. 

“We are carefully monitoring the recent upswing in cases at University Park and some of our Commonwealth Campuses,” said Penn State President Eric J. Barron. “We believe that some of the increases are tied to gatherings over Halloween weekend, and we are working closely with students on contact tracing to limit further spread of the virus. This serves as a reminder to us all that the virus is still very much present, and we must work together and follow all public health guidelines — at all times — in order to protect one another.”   

“It is important to act quickly and get tested either via University Health Services at University Park or your campus health services if you have COVID-19 symptoms or think you may have been exposed,” added Kelly Wolgast, director of Penn State’s COVID-19 Operations Control Center. “And even if you don’t have symptoms, sign up for departure testing now so that you don’t have to delay your return home to your family for Thanksgiving. There are plenty of spots available during the early portion of the testing schedule, and we are encouraging students to sign up for these earlier times so that they have their results well in advance of their planned departure.”  

Students can schedule departure testing now for all campuses by using the Return Home Event on the Penn State Go App or by visiting virusinfo.psu.edu/departure-testing.

Commonwealth Campus Test Results

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

• Abington: one on-demand testing positive and one random testing positive for the period of Oct. 30 to Nov. 5 
• Altoona: one on-demand testing positive for the period of Sept. 11 to 17, five on-demand testing positives and one random testing positive for the period of Oct. 30 to Nov. 5, and one random testing positive for the period of Nov. 6 to 8
• Behrend (Erie): 12 on-demand testing positives and two random testing positives for the period of Oct. 30 to Nov. 5
• Berks: one random testing positive for the period of Oct. 30 to Nov. 5
• Brandywine: one random testing positive for the period of Oct. 30 to Nov. 5
• Harrisburg: one on-demand testing positive and one random testing positive for the period of Oct. 30 to Nov. 5, and one on-demand testing positive for the period of Nov. 6 to 8
• Hershey: three on-demand testing positives for the period of Oct. 23 to 29 and one on-demand testing positive for the period of Oct. 30 to Nov. 5
• Mont Alto: one random testing positive for the period of Oct. 30 to Nov. 5 and one random testing positive for the period of Nov. 6 to 8
• New Kensington: one random testing positive for the period of Oct. 30 to Nov. 5
• Schuylkill: one on-demand testing positive for the period of Oct. 30 to Nov. 5
• York: one on-demand testing positive for the period of Aug. 28 to Sept. 3

Penn State Harrisburg had one on-demand testing positive among employees for the period of Oct. 30 to Nov. 5.

All students who test positive are being placed in isolation and, through systematic University 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 or who are experiencing symptoms are urged to utilize the University’s health care resources to seek out testing and facilitate contact tracing. At University Park, students can make appointments with University Health Services by using myUHS online. Other UHS COVID-19 related services can be located on the UHS website at https://studentaffairs.psu.edu/health. Campus students should contact their campus’ health care services. Those with questions about all other COVID-19 topics should call the Penn State COVID-19 Response Center at 814-865-2121.

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.

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.

Original source can be found here.