Published: Aug. 27, 2020

Through the fall semester, campus officials are providing weekly updates, includingÌýdashboard stats and items of note on positive cases, isolation, contact tracing, mitigation measures and more.Ìý

See Past Updates

Aug. 20, 2020

COVID-19-ready dashboard

  • An update is underway for the COVID-19-ready dashboard to add new information. The updated dashboard is under development and the revised version will include:
    • The daily number of polymerase chain reaction, or PCR, diagnostic tests completed by Medical Services.
    • The daily number of positive results from diagnostic PCR tests completed by Medical Services.
    • The total number of PCR tests completed by Medical Services and the number of positive results since the start of the fall semester.
    • The number of isolation spaces available for on-campus residents and the number of isolation spaces in use.
    • The number of molecular screening tests completed as part of the campus monitoring program.
    • The updated dashboard format will be published by next week.
  • The information on the current dashboard (as of Aug. 27) indicates:
    • In the past five days, Aug. 22–26, the total number of PCR tests completed by Medical Services was 354, and there were 11 positive results.Ìý
    • Percent of university isolation space in use: 1.6%.
    • The average was modified to be a 5-day average to align with how Boulder County provides averages.Ìý
    • A summary of testing during move-in week, Aug. 17–22, was added to the dashboard.
  • Campus leaders appreciate the community feedback on the dashboard. The dashboard will continue to be updated as the campus adapts its approach to COVID-19.

Monitoring

  • Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)/saliva-based monitoring: Weekly screening for on-campus residents was announced and began this week. A test site was set up on Friday, Aug. 21, to develop workflows to support this program. Two sites were operational for the first three days of classes, Aug. 24–26. On Thursday, Aug. 27, all six sites were operational. Students living in the on-campus residential communities will have an assigned location to visit each week.
  • The university is working to expand testing capacity for monitoring.
  • Wastewater monitoring: More than 20 wastewater monitoring stations are in the process of being set up as part of an on-campus observational network, which will be able to identify emerging infections in residence halls.

Contact tracing

  • The campus contact tracing program, in coordination with Boulder County Public Health, has been in operation since the summer and has had 62 contact tracing cases so far, with 88% of contacts reached.
  • There are currently nine open contact tracing cases. An open contact tracing case means that we are still: in the process of conducting interviews for a case; gathering information about close contacts; connecting with contacts to advise them on what to do related to potential exposure; and conducting daily check-ins with the positive cases while they are in isolation.
  • Campus contact tracing includes cases for individuals who are tested positive via on-campus testing. There are instances where Boulder County Public Health refers cases to the campus contact tracing team if they are identified as residents of Boulder County and members of the ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ Boulder community. The contact tracing team also handles cases they are notified about by members of the campus community.
  • For more information on campus contact tracing, visit the contact tracing webpage.Ìý

Student conduct

  • There continues to be increased educational and enforcement efforts to prevent large gatherings from occurring on and off campus.
  • University staff members have been working closely with the city and county to address enforcement of local public health orders.
  • This week. there were large gatherings off campus and the Office of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution is working through the adjudication process for instances where they received sufficient information.
  • An email will go to all students later today from the Division of Student Affairs to reinforce expectations and explain the process for addressing large gatherings that occur.

Mitigation measures

Recent communications from leadership

ÌýAdministrative eMemo: How to have a successful and safe fall semester

ÌýIntegrity, Safety and Compliance: Keep campus open; Let’s all do our part

ÌýAdministrative eMemo: Testing plans for ongoing monitoring

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