Twenty-Two Test Positive for COVID, Oct. 31-Nov. 6

Duke University’s comprehensive COVID-19 testing program received results from 15,858 tests administered to students and faculty/staff from October 31 – November 6, 2020. In total, there were 22 positive results – four undergraduate students, five graduate/professional students, and thirteen faculty/staff. The positivity rate was 0.139 percent.

Summary:

In this period: 

• 13,813 surveillance tests were administered to asymptomatic students with 7 positive results 
• 112 tests were administered to students who reported symptoms or were identified through contact tracing with 2 positive results 
• All students who tested positive are now in isolation
• Twelve students who had previously tested positive were cleared to return to campus
• 1,742 surveillance tests were administered to asymptomatic faculty/staff with no positive results
• 191 tests were administered to faculty/staff who reported symptoms or were identified through contact tracing with thirteen positive results
• All faculty/staff who tested positive are isolating at home
• Five faculty/staff who had been in isolation were cleared to return to normal activities

Overall:

• Duke has administered 149,614 tests to students and faculty/staff since August 2 and has recorded 187 positive results; 160 of those individuals have been cleared to return to normal activity
• This week, a total of 15,555 tests were administered through the surveillance program

Student testing results from this period: 

• 13,925 tests were administered to students
• 13,813 surveillance tests were administered to students living on and off campus
• 112 tests were administered to students who reported symptoms or were identified through contact tracing
• Nine students tested positive, seven of whom were asymptomatic; the rest were identified because they reported symptoms or through contact tracing
• Six of the nine students who tested positive reside in multiple off-campus locations
• Four of the students who tested positive are undergraduates; one of them lives off campus the other three live on campus in different locations; the five graduate students who tested positive are in four different programs and live at different locations
• All students who tested positive are in isolation and being monitored by Duke Student Health and continuing their coursework remotely
• Tests administered to student-athletes are included in the surveillance category
• Duke has more than 300 individual beds for residential students who need to be moved to a secure and supportive isolation or quarantine facility; currently about five percent of that capacity is utilized

Students cleared to return to activities during this period:

• Twelve students who previously tested positive were cleared to return to campus after being in isolation
• 117 students who had been in precautionary quarantine due to contact tracing were released

Contact tracing and precautionary quarantine for students during this period: 

• 112 students were placed in precautionary quarantine because they were found to have been potentially exposed to an individual who tested positive
• Students who live in Duke-provided housing will be quarantined in campus facilities; students who live off campus must quarantine in their residence.
• The majority of students in quarantine and isolation reside off campus.
• All students in precautionary quarantine and isolation are being monitored by Duke Student Health and continuing their coursework remotely.

Faculty/staff testing results from this period:

• 1,933 tests were administered to faculty/staff, including 1,742 through the surveillance program and 191 to individuals who reported symptoms or were identified through contact tracing
• Thirteen faculty/staff members received positive test results and are in isolation at home; seven of those individuals have been working remotely since March, the other six have had limited contact with others on campus
• Five faculty/staff members who had previously tested positive have recovered and were cleared to return to normal activities
• 24 faculty/staff members were asked to quarantine as a result of contact tracing and fifteen employees were released from precautionary quarantine and cleared to return to work

Tests administered in this period:

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

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