Duke experienced the lowest number of positive COVID-19 cases since August 2020 days ahead of 2021 commencement.
Four people—one student and three faculty and staff—tested positive for COVID-19 between April 19 and 25. There were a total of 20,511 tests administered to 11,052 students, faculty and staff, and the overall positivity rate was 0.02%. The number of tests administered was roughly equivalent to the week prior.
The singular positive result among students came from 54 tests given to symptomatic or contact traced students, yielding a positivity rate of 1.85%. Out of 18,333 surveillance tests given to students, there were no positive results. The overall positivity rate for students was 0.01%.
Of 2,058 surveillance tests given to faculty and staff, none were positive. The three positive results originated from 66 tests for individuals that were symptomatic or contact traced, yielding a positivity rate of 4.55%. The overall positivity rate for faculty and staff was 0.14%.
There are currently seven active cases among students and seven active cases among faculty and staff. Four people entered isolation last week while another 30 were cleared. Forty-two entered precautionary quarantine and 93 were released.
This week’s update comes after Governor Roy Cooper announced that mandatory social distancing and capacity restrictions in North Carolina would be lifted by June 1. Duke has maintained its policy of not permitting gatherings larger than 10 people throughout the academic year, even as the state began to permit larger gatherings.
Whether or not the statewide mask mandate is lifted June 1 depends on COVID-19 trends. Cooper plans to release an executive order outlining safety restrictions for the month of May this week.
Overall, there were twice as many COVID-19 tests administered and nearly four times as many positive results in spring 2021 compared to fall 2020. As of Tuesday, 351,260 tests had been administered during spring 2021 with 931 positive results. The total count for fall 2020 was 178,084 tests and 241 positive results.
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Nadia Bey, Trinity '23, was managing editor for The Chronicle's 117th volume and digital strategy director for Volume 118.