Most Recent COVID-Testing Data Continues to be Encouraging
The UMass Amherst campus continues to operate in Elevated Risk Posture this week as it keeps numerous public health restrictions in place. Recent COVID-19 test results are encouraging.
The Public Health Promotion Center (PHPC) is closely monitoring test results, and it reports 38 positive cases occurred from testing on Monday and Tuesday this week. This is a 54 percent decrease compared to the previous Monday and Tuesday, bringing the university’s cumulative seven-day positivity rate to 0.54%, the lowest it has been since the start of the spring semester.
Jeff Hescock, co-director of the PHPC, said, “While we are encouraged by the decrease in the positivity rate and cases, now is not the time to let our guard down. We must remain vigilant and consistently follow important protocols including social distancing, mask wearing and socializing within your bubble. Consistency is the key to lowering our cases. Our goal over time is to lower our
operational posture to Guarded, which will allow for some additional restrictions to be lifted.”
He noted that it’s especially important to avoid:
- Crowded places
- Confined spaces
- Close contacts
Instead, community members should:
- Wear face coverings
- Meet outside when possible and avoid group gatherings
- Keep 6 feet away from others
- Do your part and encourage your friends to do the same
Meanwhile, Student Affairs and Campus Life has resumed a limited schedule of in-person events and programs. Campus Recreation has in-person offerings every day (in addition to a full calendar of virtual events), and a slate of in-person programming is upcoming. This weekend, for example, there is a double feature at the renovated Student Union. Another pondFIRE event is planned for next week.
Beyond these structured events, there is also an increased focus on outdoor recreation. Adirondack chairs scattered across campus provide safe, distanced social settings for students to meet and hang out, and the UMass Police has begun a roving recess initiative, showing up in areas around campus with lawn games and activities for drop-in engagement.
For ongoing updates and details on the university’s COVID-19 response, please visit www.umass.edu/spring.
Resources include: