As we complete the first full week of classes and approach the holiday weekend, please note the updated information regarding campus testing, WVU’s data dashboard and metrics the University is monitoring to assess public health on campus.
Also, a Return to Campus Conversation with senior administrators will be held on Thursday, Sept. 10 at 10 a.m. Faculty, staff, students, parents, alumni and community members are welcome to join the live webinar. A link will be sent next week and will be posted on the Return to Campus website. And while we will answer as many questions live, you also may send questions prior to the Conversation at returntocampus@mail.wvu.edu. If you are unable to join, the session will be recorded and shared on the Return to Campus website later that day.
Testing
Since WVU completed its Return to Campus testing last week, we have been increasingly focused on testing anyone who reports symptoms of COVID-19, students who have been identified as close contacts of positive cases, and those living in residence halls or are involved in activities that may lead to a higher risk of spread (for example, activities involving singing or instrument playing or physical contact and athletics).
The University anticipates conducting between 2,000 to 2,500 tests a week.As testing becomes more available, we hope to increase our ability to test in the coming weeks.
Data Dashboard
West Virginia University is providing additional data to its COVID-19 testing dashboard to help the campus and surrounding community better understand positive test results, monitoring and response protocols.The updated dashboard will include data about self-reported positive test results from outside WVU’s testing system, as well as isolation and quarantine information (on-campus, off campus and those who have gone home).
Self-reported positive test results from outside the WVU system are an addition to the positive campus test results previously part of the dashboard. The campus test results will continue to be updated, and like the self-reported results, are listed on the date they were reported to WVU, not the date the positive cases were tested.
The quarantine numbers will reflect those who should avoid contact with others to the furthest extent possible for the next 14 days, as directed by the local health department. These individuals are likely in quarantine because they are considered a close contact of someone who tested positive for COVID-19.
Isolation numbers will indicate those who areavoiding contact with others for at least 10 days after a testing date, as directed by the local health department. Individuals are likely in isolation because they’ve tested positive for COVID-19, and this isolation period separates them from others who may not be sick to help stop the spread of COVID-19. Residence Hall students may isolate in Arnold Apartments. Those who live off-campus may self-isolate as long as they are able to stay away from others by using a separate living space.
WVU’s dashboard will continue to be updated Monday-Friday at 2 p.m. The shift from 11 a.m. will provide additional time to compile and analyze the data now coming in from multiple sources. Information regarding students and employees will still be broken out by campus ( Morgantown, Beckley and Keyser).
Public Health Metrics
WVU moved last week from the initial, baseline testing to ongoing testing for the remainder of the semester. The daily percentage of positive COVID-19 tests, quarantine and isolation numbers were expected to increase during this symptomatic and sample testing, as these tests are for individuals who have COVID-19 symptoms and groups who are more likely to be at risk of contracting COVID-19.
The University continues to monitor numerous data points several times a day to determine whether additional precautionary measures are required. An Incident Command Center, comprised of a cross-section of University representatives, meets daily to review current statistics. University leadership is in constant communication with the county health department, the state and testing labs to quickly identify any concerning trends.
To determine if a trend is concerning, the University is frequently monitoring the following factors:
- Number of students, faculty and staff testing positive on a daily, cumulative and seven-day basis;
- Number of positive cases compared to total tests on a single day, cumulative and a seven-day rolling basis;
- Number of cases in Monongalia County per 100,000 people on a seven-day rolling average;
- R-naught values; which represents the spread of infection;
- The number of students in isolation and the percentage of isolation beds occupied;
- The number of students in quarantine and our ability to support those in quarantine;
- Information on hospitalizations and hospital capacity;
- State and county level data on the West Virginia DHHR’s website;
- Supply of personal protective equipment and cleaning supplies; and
- The ability of University and local officials to effectively undertake case management and undertake contract tracing.
Though some in our community are seeking a“magic number,” there is no single metric, specific number or percentage that would trigger the University to change course. Rather, multiple factors are being reviewed in combination to determine if the University is trending in the wrong direction.
We know, for example, that as we focus testing on individuals who have had close contact with positive cases, the percent positivity rates will be higher than our baseline testing.However, if we also see a substantial number of new cases that have not had previous exposures, this suggests greater spread may be occurring that would warrant additional mitigation efforts.
While severalrumors and inaccurate information have been spread this week through social media and conversations, there is no predetermined date that the University is intending to change course. There also is no immediate plan to move to an online-only delivery mode.
If the University, as well as local and state public health officials, indicates that community spread is moving too quickly, it does not mean the University will automatically move to solely online course delivery.
In fact, there are several options that could be implemented should there be a concerning shift in numbers. Those options include:
- further reducing activities on campus
- restricting travel on campus
- moving more or all classes to online for a certain number of weeks to reduce spread
If the University and its partners in public health feel the community spread cannot be flattened or controlled, only then will the option of moving all classes online and halting all but essential operations on campus be implemented.
Communication
And finally, it is important to remember that all University updates will be shared through official University communication channels, including E-news, Unews, Parents E-newsletter and official WVU social media accounts. Please be sure to review these communications daily for new and updated information. Also, plan to watch the upcoming Return to Campus Conversation next week to learn more and send any questions to returntocampus@mail.wvu.edu. We will continue to provide information as quickly and through as many channels as possible.