MANSFIELD, Conn. — The University of Connecticut provided an update Wednesday afternoon on the status of coronavirus on its Storrs campus.
Officials report five new cases within the last 24 hours. The total number of current positive or suspected on-campus cases is 40.
The university also reported 5 new off-campus cases in the same time frame, bringing that total to 57. Those are cases among students who plan to visit campus for classes.
Additionally, three faculty/staff who expect to be working regularly on campus tested positive, which is one more than last week.
A university spokesperson said a total of 92 students have recovered thus far, which is an increase of 6 since Tuesday.
Thus far, UConn says it has recorded a cumulative figure of 107 confirmed positive residential student cases since testing began Aug. 14 before they moved into their residence halls.
UConn Storrs' positivity rate is currently 0.80 % and 7,471 tests have been administered.
UConn says three of the five new cases at Storrs were either already in a medical quarantine or had been identified as a “close contact” of a positive case.
According to university officials, that this is a good indication that contact tracing has been successful at the university.
After being alerted that state police responded to two different off-campus gatherings last week, Dean of Students and Associate Vice President for Student Affairs, Eleanor JB Daugherty sent a message to Storrs undergraduate students reiterating the critical need for all students to follow health guidelines.
"Please be assured that off-campus activities are as endangering to the health and safety of others as on campus and they will be reviewed in that light," she wrote.
Students are reminded that exposures occur when individuals are less than six feet apart and not wearing a mask, whether at a large gathering or small gathering.
Some activities that aren't recommended include: having a few friends in dorm room to play card games, video games, or watch Netflix.
"These acts appear innocent and understandable during a time when so much has been sacrificed. They are not innocent and they are putting your health and the health of others at risk," Daugherty said.
UConn first saw a spike in COVID-19 cases a couple weeks ago, where at least 20 of them were associated with one dorm.
All students living in Garrigus Suites who tested positive for the virus were placed into an isolation space on campus.
"The quarantine will need to continue until a clear decrease in transmission can be documented through serial testing. All residents in Garrigus will be tested twice a week, and there is an adjacent dining hall that will be open only to Garrigus residents during this quarantine period," said UConn spokesperson Stephanie Reitz in a written statement.
Officials say they must provide proof of a negative test before they may return to campus.
