COVID-19 Testing Update, Sept. 5-11

Duke University’s comprehensive COVID-19 testing program received results from 7,582 tests administered to students, faculty and staff from September 5 – 11, 2020. In total, there were six positive results.

Summary:

In this period:

• 6,969 surveillance tests were administered to asymptomatic students; there were two positive results. An additional 110 tests were administered to students who reported symptoms or were identified through contact tracing with three positive results.  All five students – who live in different locations – are now in isolation. Four students who had previously tested positive were cleared to return to campus.
• 503 tests were administered to faculty/staff; 416 surveillance tests yielded no positive results, and 87 tests to symptomatic or contact traced individuals had one positive result and that individual is isolating at home. Two faculty/staff who had been in isolation were cleared to return to normal activities.

Overall:

• Duke has administered 31,362 tests to students, faculty and staff since August 2 and has recorded 58 positive results; 50 of those individuals have been cleared to return to normal activity.
• This week, 7,385 tests were administered through the surveillance program; that number is expected to increase to 10,000 tests per week.

Two types of tests were administered in this period:

1. Surveillance testing for asymptomatic students, faculty, and staff
2. Clinical testing for individuals who report symptoms or who are identified through contact tracing

Student testing results from this period:

• 6,969 students were tested
• Five students tested positive, three symptomatic and two asymptomatic; all are in isolation and being monitored by Duke Student Health and continuing their coursework remotely
• Surveillance testing included students living on- and off-campus
• Duke has more than 300 individual beds for residential students who need to be moved to a secure and supportive isolation facility

Students cleared to return to activities during this period:

• 4 students who previously tested positive were cleared to return to campus after being in isolation.
• 103 students who had been in precautionary quarantine because of contact tracing were released.

Contact tracing and precautionary quarantine for students during this period:

• 110 students (approximately ¾ of whom live off campus) were placed in precautionary quarantine because they were found to have been potentially exposed to an individual who tested positive; these students are being monitored by Duke Student Health and continuing their coursework remotely. Students who live in Duke-provided housing will be quarantined in campus facilities. Students who live off-campus must quarantine in their residence. 

Faculty & staff testing results from this period:

• 503 tests were administered to faculty and staff, including 416 through the surveillance program and 87 to individuals who reported symptoms.
• One faculty/staff member received a positive test result; that person is in isolation at home.
• Two faculty/staff members who had previously tested positive have recovered and were cleared to return to normal activities.
• Seven faculty/staff members were asked to quarantine as a result of contact tracing and eleven employees were released from quarantine and cleared to return to work.

More information on Duke’s COVID-19 testing program can be found at https://coronavirus.duke.edu/covid-testing/.  Results are updated every Monday.