The number of positive COVID-19 cases among students, faculty and staff at the University of Georgia reached a record low last week.
The university recorded 63 cases during the week of Sept. 21-27 through its DawgCheck system. Of those cases, 52 were students, nine were staff and two were faculty members. The positivity rate at UGA’s surveillance testing site, where 1,490 tests were administered, dropped to 1.95 percent.
“Once again, we are very encouraged by these results,” University Health Center and Medical Oversight Task Force Chair Dr. Garth Russo said in a statement Wednesday. “However, I was disappointed to see that participation in our surveillance testing dropped after a record high last week. We can test about 500 individuals a day at Legion Field, yet we averaged only around 300 per day last week. We need strong, sustained participation in our testing program to maintain the progress we are making against this disease.”
Test results are reported each Wednesday on the University Health Center website. The data consists of tests from four sources: tests conducted through UGA’s surveillance testing program, tests conducted at the University Health Center, reports from Athens-area medical providers and reports of positive tests from other sources.
The UHC website also includes follow-up responses from students who previously tested positive. The week of Sept. 7-13, 93 percent of students surveyed reported that they had fully recovered from their symptoms.
“While we are all relieved to see the continuing downward trend in cases at UGA, we cannot let down our guard, especially as we are preparing to host our first home football game of the season” said UGA President Jere Morehead. “COVID-19 remains a very serious public health issue. Everyone on our campus—including those coming to the game—needs to make sound choices for health and safety. We’re clearly moving in the right direction, so let’s work together to keep it that way.”
