COVID Testing Continues: Campus Alert Level Remains Green
Testing for COVID-19 is now the norm for RIT and campuses across the nation. The latest round of testing highlights that RIT students, faculty, and staff have responded to the need to protect our community by not only getting tested, but more importantly by wearing a mask when in the vicinity of others, washing our hands, and watching our distance. Thank you for showing with actions how much you care about our community!
Testing students on Friday from Carlton Gibson and Sol Heumann residence halls did not detect any positive COVID cases. In the past 14 days, RIT has identified four positive cases among students and zero cases among employees. We have conducted more than 3,000 tests since the start of the semester.
We do plan to continue proactively conducting self-administered, observed surveillance testing among students each week. Our multifaceted approach to surveillance testing has proven effective in early COVID-19 detection on our campus. Testing activities will continue throughout the semester. We realize this can be inconvenient, but we also know it is a good way to identify and work to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
We are increasing our efforts to target key constituencies. We have tested students both on and off campus, and we are following closely recent trends of outbreaks on campuses nationwide. This week we have identified the following student groups for surveillance testing: Greek Life, varsity athletics (NCAA student-athletes), and club sports.
Please continue to review the RIT COVID dashboard, which helps us better assess how to modify current practices and protocols. In addition, our alert level system will enable RIT to respond quickly to rapidly evolving health conditions. The alert system remains at Green, indicating that while the underlying threat of outbreak remains, the virus prevalence is low.
Thank you for all you do to keep our RIT community safe. Please remain vigilant every minute of every day. And, please get your flu shot early this year! Among the most important medical interventions one can take this year is getting a flu shot.
Dr. Wendy Gelbard
Associate Vice President, Wellness Student Affairs
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