11/17: COVID-19 dashboard updated with preliminary results from weekend testing

On-demand testing numbers include results from student departure testing conducted at University Park
Walkway to West Halls Quad at Penn State University Park in Autumn

Walkway to West Halls Quad at Penn State University Park in Autumn

Credit: Ann Taylor-Schmidt

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 Nov. 13 to 15, as well as new University testing results from the prior week. As of Nov. 16 at University Park, there are 273 active student cases, down from 319 at the last update on Nov. 13, and 4,200 students have completed their isolation period and are no longer active cases.

For the period of Nov. 13 to 15, the University Park campus received 50 positive on-demand test results and two positive random testing results from student testing. The tests that are awaiting results will be validated and uploaded to the dashboard for the next update on Friday, Nov. 20.

Results received with respect to tests conducted during the week of Nov. 6 to 12 have added 90 positive on-demand student testing results and three 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 Nov. 6 to 12 to 253 positive on-demand testing results and 11 positive random testing results from student testing.

Among employees at the University Park campus, there are three new on-demand testing positive results and one new random testing positive result for the period of Nov. 6 to 12, and one new on-demand testing positive result for the period of Nov. 13 to 15.  

Penn State’s student departure testing began on Nov. 12 and goes through Nov. 19 at University Park. Departure testing conducted through Nov. 15 is reported as part of the on-demand testing results in today’s dashboard update. For the period of Nov. 12 to Nov. 15, 2,986 student departure tests were performed, with 72 positive results receive thus far. An additional 8,000 University Park students have signed up for departure testing from Nov. 16 to 19, and those results will be reported as part of on-demand testing results in future dashboard updates.

"We urge all students to take advantage of the departure testing being offered at no cost to them," said Damon Sims, vice president for Student Affairs. “For those students who have not already signed up for this testing, or have missed their previously scheduled test at University Park, there is still time. It is critical for students to be tested to reduce the risk of unwittingly infecting others when they return home to family and friends. We are encouraging students who test positive to isolate on campus or in a suitable single-occupancy space off campus before leaving for Thanksgiving break — or to take appropriate precautions to self-isolate if they do choose to return home.”

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

“With our on-demand testing numbers now including the results of our voluntary student departure testing, both our numbers of tests performed and our positive results are higher than we have seen in more recent updates to the dashboard. This is expected,” said Kelly Wolgast, director of Penn State’s COVID-19 Operations Control Center. “We are up to more than 15,000 students across all campuses who have heeded our call to sign-up for a test, and the week is still early. We won't turn any student away from testing.”

University Park On-Demand Student Testing Positive Results by Week: 

University Park Student On-Demand Testing 11 17 20
Credit: Penn State

University Park Random Student Testing Positive Results by Week: 

University Park Student Random Testing 11 17 20
Credit: Penn State

Commonwealth Campus Test Results 

Since the last update on Friday (Nov. 13), the dashboard indicates new student testing results at the following campus locations: 

  • Abington: one on-demand testing positive and two random testing positives for the period of Nov. 6 to 12  
  • Altoona: seven on-demand testing positives for the period of Nov. 6 to 12, and three on-demand testing positives for the period of Nov. 13 to 15
  • Behrend (Erie): seven on-demand testing positives and nine random testing positives for the period of Nov. 6 to 12, and one random testing positive for the period of Nov. 13 to 15
  • Berks: two random testing positives for the period of Nov. 6 to 12
  • Brandywine: one random testing positive for the period of Nov. 6 to 12, and one one-demand testing positive and one random testing positive for the period of Nov. 13 to 15
  • Greater Allegheny: one random testing positive for the period of Nov. 6 to 12
  • Harrisburg: four on-demand testing positives and one random testing positive for the period of Nov. 6 to 12
  • Hershey: one on-demand testing positive for the period of Nov. 6 to 12
  • Schuylkill: one on-demand testing positive and one random testing positive for the period of Nov. 6 to 12, and one on-demand testing positive for the period of Nov. 13 to 15

For employee testing, the following campuses have reported positive test results since the last update: 

  • Abington: one on-demand testing positive for the period of Nov. 13 to 15
  • Altoona: two on-demand testing positives for the period of Nov. 6 to 12
  • Berks: one on-demand testing positive and one random testing positive for the period of Nov. 6 to 12
  • DuBois: one on-demand testing positive for the period of Nov. 6 to 12
  • Harrisburg: one random testing positive for the period of Nov. 6 to 12
  • Hazleton: one on-demand testing positive for the period of Nov. 6 to 12
  • Hershey: one on-demand testing positive for the period of Nov. 6 to 12 

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. Commonwealth 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.

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.