Campus Update – Matrix Scoring, Community Expectations
Based on concerns related to on-campus testing compliance and substantial community transmission, the University will remain at a MODERATE risk level with no changes to community expectations. The CDC COVID Data Tracker continues to classify Pitt County as an area of substantial community transmission and recommends that everyone should wear a mask in public, indoor settings.
Our on-campus risk increased this week with an uptick in new cases from six to 16 over the past seven days. It is not yet clear that this is a trend. The campus positivity rate continues to stay below 1-2%. Total campus community vaccination rate is 78% with employees reaching 87%. Quarantine and isolation occupancy remains low with only one on-campus student and three off-campus students in quarantine or isolation.
Pitt County community data continues to improve with reductions in new cases and hospitalizations over the prior week of scoring. The county positivity rate has declined from 4.9% to 4.1%. This rate is within the lower risk level of below 5%.
Campus and community data will be closely monitored for developing trends as we enter the holiday and winter season. Europe is currently experiencing a significant surge. They have served as a leading indicator for U.S. surges during the pandemic. Case rates are increasing nationally and also within our state. Recently, there has been an uptick in cases on campus.
With this in mind, it is important to stay smart and vigilant. Please continue to wear masks indoors and get vaccinated. Vaccination remains our best defense against any COVID case surges and subsequent hospitalizations. Vaccine boosters are now widely available for those 18 or older and have received their second/final dose of Pfizer or Moderna more than six months ago or Johnson & Johnson more than two months ago.
Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, there will be no Scoring Subcommittee meeting this Friday and no campus update next week. However, the COVID Coordination Committee members will continue to monitor the data on a daily basis and remain prepared to communicate any critical actions to campus.
Thank you for all you are doing to protect and support your neighbors and campus community through this continuing pandemic. Stay safe and have a Happy Thanksgiving. GO PIRATES!
– Bill Koch, Associate Vice Chancellor, Campus Safety & Auxiliary Services, Co-Chair, COVID Coordination Committee