As Colorado faces COVID-19 infection rates at the highest level since nearly a year, cases reported at the University of Northern Colorado have oscillated wildly. The university has moved away from regular surveillance tests for residential students, and is instead relying on high vaccination rates, mask mandates and voluntary testing to control the spread of COVID-19.
Currently masks are required for everyone regardless of vaccination status while inside buildings on campus. As of October 25, 91 percent of UNC employees are vaccinated, with 86 percent of students vaccinated.
The university’s health alerts website has moved from updating every business day to updating weekly on Mondays. Vaccinated individuals are not required to report exposure to the virus unless they experience symptoms or test positive themselves.
Students and community members have access to free tests through the Mako Medical drive-up testing site outside Bishop-Lehr hall with results guaranteed within three days.
UNC has not faced the same number of positive tests as it had last year, when at certain points over 20 cases were reported daily. 270 cases were reported in November 2020 alone, the highest point during the pandemic. UNC has reported 932 cases of COVID-19 since July 15, 2020. Facts and figures can be found at unco.edu/coronavirus/health-alerts.
The seven-day rolling average of new cases reported per day has spiked repeatedly in the past few months, but it has not come close to the numbers reported in fall 2020. Spikes can be seen following marked events such as move-in weekend, Labor Day weekend and Homecoming weekend.
