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24 New COVID Cases at FSU

April 20th, 2021 by WCBC Radio

Latest COVID-19 numbers from Frostburg State University.

Through the university’s twice-weekly testing protocol, 24 positive tests were identified during last week’s seven-day testing period. The week’s positivity rate is 0.99 percent. While the rate remains below the region and state positivity rates, students and employees must remember that the virus IS IN OUR community and practicing health and safety measures is essential. 

 

Currently, more than 1,200 FSU students and employees have reported receiving a first dose, second dose or single dose of a COVID vaccine. And 940 have reported being fully vaccinated. Additionally, students and employees not yet vaccinated can sign up for vaccinations at UPMC Frostburg Urgent Care this week. Visit this link for details.   

 

The total number of tests administered on campus is decreasing as the number of fully vaccinated individuals — who are exempt from testing — increases. This number will continue to decrease through the end of the semester. Note that vaccinated individuals can still test if they choose to. To date, FSU has administered more than 37,000 tests this semester. Students and employees should enter their vaccination information into the Check-in Portal under “My Vaccinations.” 

 

It is important for student and employees to remain especially vigilant about how you interact with others. Most positive cases are linked to common social circles and social interactions. Any on-campus individuals that have tested positive have elected to go home or were moved into the off-campus housing contracted for isolation and quarantine purposes. As with all positive tests, contract tracing is ongoing. Disinfection and sanitization protocol for any residence hall areas has occurred with continued follow-up treatments of high-touch areas.  

 

Every member of the university community must obey public health measures and guidance — proper masking, remaining socially distanced, washing/disinfecting your hands and staying away from large, unmasked gatherings — over these final weeks of the semester. Students can reach out to the Brady Health Center by calling 301-687-4310 if they have symptoms or health concerns.  

 

Testing Dashboard Update:   

Aggregate testing data will be sent to campus and posted every Tuesday during the semester. Testing data is among the several key COVID-19 indicators the University is monitoring to determine the raising or lowering of our institutional recovery response levels.   

   

TESTING DASHBOARD For April 12-18, 2021   

   

Testing Period 

Number of FSU-Administered Tests – Negative 

Number of FSU-Administered Tests – Positive  

Positivity Rate  

April 12-18, 2021 

2,394 

24 

0.99% 

April 5-11, 2021 

3,196 

30 

0.93% 

March 29-April 4, 2021 

3,154 

20 

0.63% 

March 22-28, 2021 

3,223 

19 

0.59% 

March 15-21, 2021 

3,008 

4 

0.13% 

March 8-14, 2021 

3,245 

2 

0.06% 

March 1-7, 2021 

3,292 

1 

0.03% 

Feb. 22-28, 2021 

3,189 

2 

0.06% 

Feb. 15-21, 2021 

2,791 

0 

0.00% 

Feb. 8-14, 2021 

3,123 

1 

0.03% 

Feb. 1-7, 2021 

2,367 

6 

0.25% 

Jan. 25-31, 2021 

1,718 

9 

0.52% 

Jan. 17-24, 2021 

1,964 

7 

0.36% 

   

Test results reported during the semester include campus-wide testing of in-person students and employees, athletics testing and symptomatic tests conducted by Brady Health.   

Visit www.frostburg.edu/spring2021 and check your FSU email for updates and important information.   

 

Vaccinations 

The number of those within our campus community who have reported receiving the vaccine are:  

  • 940 Fully Vaccinated 
  • 274 Partially Vaccinated 

 

All members of the campus community are now eligible to register at http://covidvax.maryland.gov for the vaccine. Visit our vaccination web page for more details.   

 

If you receive a vaccine, please be sure to enter that information at www.frostburg.edu/checkin. Look for “My Vaccinations” in the menu at the top right. You can enter first and second doses. This information is being added to the several key COVID-19 indicators the University is monitoring to determine the raising or lowering of our institutional recovery response levels.   

 

Reminder of Testing Protocol
To guide our decisions for a safer campus, Frostburg State University is implementing an intensive COVID-19 testing strategy for the spring semester. All students, faculty and staff who are regularly on campus will be tested twice each week, every week, using the BinaxNOW rapid antigen test. If your antigen test returns a positive result, you will be informed quickly and must follow up with Brady Health (for students) or your healthcare provider (for faculty and staff). Results will also be uploaded to your COVID-19 Check-in Portal approximately 20 minutes after your test.   

   

A portion of our campus community is exempt from the campus testing protocol. You may be exempt if:   

  • you are an employee who is mostly teleworking/teaching fully online;   
  • all of your classes are fully online AND you are living off campus;   
  • you are a student-athlete (and being tested through Athletics);   
  • you previously tested positive for COVID-19 within the last 90 days and have uploaded the result to the COVID Check-In Portal;   
  • you've submitted a complete COVID-19 vaccination record via the COVID Check-In Portal;   
  • for a reason not listed above, you've submitted an exemption request via the COVID Check-In Portal, and it has been approved.   

You can check your current exemption status by visiting the COVID Check-in Portal.   

   

COVID Test Center Hours and Guidance   

The following guidance is offered:   

  • No appointment will be necessary, but eligible students and employees should plan to be tested once on Monday/Tuesday and again on Thursday/Friday. You can choose which days, and you do not have to use the same days each week.   
  • The test center will not test on Wednesdays.   
  • The test times are between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. To avoid crowds, do not show up before 9 a.m., at the top of each hour, or right before the 3 p.m. closing.   
  • If you are only on campus once a week (excluding Wednesdays), you may test on that day only.   
  • Testing in the Lane Center is for NON-SYMPTOMATIC individuals. If you are experiencing symptoms, contact Brady Health or your health care provider.   
  • The testing population list will be reviewed by the Registrar (for students) or the Office of Human Resources (for faculty and staff) to ensure all constituents required to be tested are fulfilling their testing obligation per the social compact.