11/13: Latest COVID-19 dashboard update shows slight increase in active cases

As virus cases rise across the state and nation, students are urged to follow all public health guidance heading into final week of in-person learning
Pillar in back of HUB

Students who have not yet done so are also being encouraged to sign up for departure testing, which the University is offering at no cost to students at all campus locations. Students can schedule departure testing now via the Return Home Event on the Penn State Go App or by visiting virusinfo.psu.edu/departure-testing.

Credit: Chris Koleno

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State released its preliminary coronavirus testing results for the period of Nov. 6 to 12 on its COVID-19 dashboard today (Nov. 13). The University Park campus received 163 positive on-demand test results and eight positive random test results from student testing during the period of Nov. 6 to 12. 

As of Nov. 12 at University Park, there are 319 active student cases, up from 275 at the last update on Nov. 10, and 4,009 students have completed their isolation period and are no longer active cases. There also are five new on-demand testing positive results among employees at University Park for the period of Nov. 6 to 12. The five new employee cases are not believed to be related, and the impacted individuals are self-isolating and close contacts are being identified through contact tracing. 

As virus cases continue to rise statewide, Penn State is cognizant that Mount Nittany Medical Center is seeing an increase in COVID-19-related hospitalizations, and the University is monitoring the situation closely and in daily communication with the hospital regarding its capacity and inpatient numbers. 

Tests administered later in the week are still pending results, which can take 48 hours or more and will be included in the dashboard update on Tuesday, Nov. 17.

The data for the week of Oct. 30 to Nov. 5 also has been updated as additional test results came in and were validated. The dashboard, when updated and posted with new data, is only a snapshot at that one point in time and cannot be considered a final reporting as test results are still pending for the Nov. 6 to 12 time period.

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

University Park On-Demand Student Testing Positive Results 11 13 2020
Credit: Penn State

University Park Random Student Testing Positive Results by Week:

University Park Random Student Testing Positive Results 11 13 2020
Credit: Penn State

Commonwealth Campus Test Results

Since the last update on Tuesday (Nov. 10), the dashboard indicates new student testing results at the following campus locations:

  • Abington: one random testing positive for the period of Nov. 6 to 12 
  • Altoona: seven on-demand testing positives and one random testing positive for the period of Nov. 6 to 12
  • Behrend (Erie): nine on-demand testing positives and one random testing positive for the period of Nov. 6 to 12
  • Brandywine: one on-demand testing positive for the period of Nov. 6 to 12
  • Harrisburg: one on-demand testing positive and two random testing positives for the period of Nov. 6 to 12
  • Hazleton: one on-demand testing positive for the period of Oct. 30 to Nov. 5
  • Hershey: one random testing positive for the period of Oct. 30 to Nov. 5 and one random testing positive for the period of Nov. 6 to 12
  • Mont Alto: one random testing positive for the period of Nov. 6 to 12
  • Schuylkill: three on-demand testing positive for the period of Nov. 6 to 12

The dashboard also indicates the following new employee testing results at the following campus locations:

  • Abington: one on-demand testing positive for the period of Nov. 6 to 12
  • Behrend (Erie): one random testing positive for the period of Nov. 6 to 12
  • Dickinson Law: one random testing positive for the period of Nov. 6 to 12
  • Hershey: one on-demand testing positive for the period of Oct. 23 to 29. This case was previously coded incorrectly as a student case. 
  • Mont Alto: one random testing positive for the period of Nov. 6 to 12

“As the numbers of COVID-19 cases continue to increase across the state and nation, we are seeing this same trend on many of our campuses,” said Kelly Wolgast, director of Penn State’s COVID-19 Operations Control Center. “With one week left of in-person classes, we must continue to be cautious and follow all public health guidelines for masking, social distancing and avoiding large gatherings. In particular, while students should continue with their normal class routines, we are advising that they self-quarantine as much as they can to reduce the risk of virus exposure before they return home next week.”

Students who have not yet done so are also being encouraged to sign up for departure testing, which the University is offering at no cost to students at all campus locations. Students can schedule departure testing now via the Return Home Event on the Penn State Go App or by visiting virusinfo.psu.edu/departure-testing.

All students who test positive are being placed in isolation and, through systematic University contact tracing, close contacts of the infected individuals are being identified and must remain in quarantine for 14 days from the last contact with the infected individual.

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.

Penn State experts are continuing to track current trends and continuously monitoring local, state and national disease data. The University is working closely with officials from the Pennsylvania Departments of Education and Health, as well as local public and private organizations, to carefully monitor the prevalence of coronavirus in Centre County to determine if the virus is moving from the campus community to the local community and, if so, to develop strategies to mitigate such spread.

To continue on-campus learning, work and other activities through the fall semester, it’s vital that students, faculty and staff at all campuses and in adjacent communities do their part to limit the spread of COVID-19 — and support the effort to “Mask Up or Pack Up.” The University urges everyone to continue to wear face masks, practice social distancing and avoid gatherings entirely.

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.