Category: Testing & Reporting Page 2 of 6

Testing Update: April 19 – 25, 2021

Duke University’s comprehensive COVID-19 testing and contact tracing program administered 18,387 tests to 9,925 students and 2,124 tests to 1,127 faculty/staff for the period April 19-25, 2021, with a total of four positive results. The total positivity rate was 0.02%.

This is the lowest number of positive cases reported since testing started in August 2020.

The full announcement of testing results is posted to Duke Today.

Testing data is also available on our Testing Tracker.

Summer Surveillance Test Sites

Surveillance testing will be conducted during Summer Sessions 2021. The schedule and list of test sites has been posted to the Duke United website.

That link is here: https://returnto.duke.edu/public-health-measures/covid-19-testing/#summer-sites

Testing Update: April 12 – 18, 2021

Duke University’s comprehensive COVID-19 testing and contact tracing program administered 18,504 tests to 9,951 students and 2,190 tests to 1,125 faculty/staff for the period April 12-18, with a total of 26 positive results. The total positivity rate was 0.13 percent.

The full announcement of testing results is posted to Duke Today.

Testing data is also available on our Testing Tracker, which is updated every Tuesday.

Testing Update: April 5 – 11, 2021

Duke University’s comprehensive COVID-19 testing and contact tracing program administered 18,727 tests to 10,016 students and 2,213 tests to 1,154 faculty/staff for the period April 5-11, 2021, with a total of 39 positive results. The total positivity rate was 0.19 percent.

The full announcement of testing results is posted to Duke Today.

Testing data is also available on our Testing Tracker, which is updated every Tuesday.

Testing Update: March 29-April 4, 2021

Duke University’s comprehensive COVID-19 testing and contact tracing program administered 18,972 tests to 9,417 students and 2,299 tests to 1,177 faculty/staff for the period March 29-April 4, 2021, with a total of 30 positive results. The total positivity rate was 0.14 percent.

Over the past three weeks, the number of positive tests among Duke students has declined from a high of 218 (for the week ending March 14) to 15 this past week. In addition, all Duke students, faculty and staff have now been offered the opportunity to get the COVD-19 vaccine.

The full announcement of testing results is posted to Duke Today.

Testing data is also available on our Testing Tracker, which is updated every Tuesday.

Testing Update: March 22-28, 2021

Duke University’s comprehensive COVID-19 testing and contact tracing program administered 19,448 tests to 9,944 students and 2,495 tests to 1,329 faculty/staff for the period March 22-28 2021, with a total of 43 positive results. The total positivity rate was 0.20 percent.

This represents a significant decline in positive cases among students from last week.

The full announcement of testing results is posted to Duke Today.

Testing data is also available on our Testing Tracker, which is updated every Tuesday.

Testing Update: March 15-21, 2021

Duke University’s comprehensive COVID-19 testing and contact tracing program administered 20,018 tests to 9,729 students and 2,437 tests to 1,246 faculty/staff for the period March 15-21 2021, with a total of 78 positive results. The total positivity rate was 0.35 percent.

This represents a significant decline from last week. The downward trend allowed the university to lift most of the restrictions that were part of the “Stay in Place” order for undergraduate students which began March 13 at midnight and ended at 9 a.m. March 21.

The full announcement of testing results is posted to Duke Today.

Testing data is also available on our Testing Tracker, which is updated every Tuesday.

Testing Update: March 8-14, 2021

Duke University’s comprehensive COVID-19 testing and contact tracing program administered 19,131 tests to 9,675 students and 2,590 tests to 1,363 faculty/staff for the period March 8-14 2021, with a total of 231 positive results, 211 of which were undergraduate students. The total positivity rate was 1.1 percent.

This was the highest number of positive cases reported in a single week and nearly equals the total number of positive cases reported for the entire first semester (241). In order to curtail further spread of the virus, a “Stay in Place” order was issued for all undergraduate students effective Saturday, March 13, at midnight and extending through Sunday, March 21.

The full announcement of testing results is posted to Duke Today.

Testing data is also available on our Testing Tracker, which is updated every Tuesday.

Stay-In-Place for Duke Undergraduate Students – Effective at Midnight, Saturday March 13

This message is being sent to all Duke undergraduate students.

Saturday, March 13, 2021

Dear students, 

Effective at midnight, Saturday, March 13, all Duke undergraduate students are required to stay-in-place until 9 a.m., Sunday, March 21. This message supersedes all previous messages.

This action is necessary to contain the rapidly escalating number of COVID cases among Duke undergraduates, which is principally driven by students attending recruitment parties for selective living groups. Over the past week more than 180 students are in isolation for a positive COVID 19 test, and an additional 200 students are in quarantine as a result of contact tracing.  This is by far the largest one-week number of positive tests and quarantines since the start of the pandemic.

We will continue to monitor the situation and will share an update on Thursday, March 18.

WHAT THIS MEANS 

The goal of the stay-in-place period is to stop the spread of COVID among the undergraduate population as quickly as possible.

Details are included below the signature. In summary, during the stay-in-place period:

  • All in-person courses including lab classes will shift to remote-only delivery. There will be VERY few exceptions to this; if you are enrolled in a course with an exemption, you will receive direct communication from your instructor or dean. 
  • Undergraduates working in laboratories may not participate in laboratory activities this week.
  • Students living in Duke-provided housing (including Avana, Blue Light, and the Washington Duke) must remain in their residence hall room or apartment at all times except for essential activities related to food, health, or safety. 
  • Students living off-campus in the Durham area are not permitted on campus, except to participate in surveillance testing, seek medical care at Student Health, or pick up grab-and-go food orders at the Crown Commons express pick up (5 minute limit). 
  • Common spaces such as the Bryan Center, Brodhead Center, and other campus buildings will only be open to residential students for essential activities (for example, food or package pick up), and only during limited hours. Details and open hours will be posted on the Keep Learning site
  • Additional details for on-campus and off-campus students are included below the signature. 

WHY THIS IS NECESSARY NOW

If this feels serious, it’s because it is. This stay-in-place period is strongly recommended by our medical experts. The restriction of student movement—coupled with a renewed dedication to following social distancing, masking, symptom monitoring and other public health guidelines—gives us the best path toward curtailing further spread. Violations of these requirements will be considered a violation of the Duke Compact and will be treated as such; flagrant and repeated violations will be grounds for suspension or withdrawal from Duke.

Our ability to complete the semester, commencement for our seniors, and the health and safety of our community, including your fellow undergraduate students, is hanging in the balance. Now more than ever we NEED you to come together as a Duke community to meet this challenge together. We know you can do it.

Thank you and go Duke,

John Blackshear
Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students

Gary Bennett
Vice Provost of Undergraduate Education 

Mary Pat McMahon
Vice Provost of Student Affairs

STAY-IN-PLACE DETAILS 

During the stay-in-place period:

  • All in-person courses including lab classes will shift to remote-only delivery. There will be VERY few exceptions to this; if you are enrolled in a course with an exemption, you will receive direct communication from your instructor or dean.
  • Undergraduates working in laboratories may not participate  in laboratory activities this week.
  • Students living in Duke-provided housing (including Avana, Blue Light, and the Washington Duke) must remain in their residence hall room or apartment at all times except for essential activities related to food, health, or safety.
  • Students living off-campus in the Durham area are not permitted on campus, except to participate in surveillance testing, seek medical care at Student Health, or pick up grab-and-go food orders at the Crown Commons express pick up (5 minute limit).
  • Common spaces such as the Bryan Center, Brodhead Center and other campus buildings will only be open to residential students for essential activities (for example, food or package pick up), and only during limited hours. Details and open hours will be posted on the Keep Learning site
  • Libraries will be closed to undergraduate students.
  • For those returning from travel, two negative surveillance tests will be required, even if this extends your quarantine past next weekend. All features of the stay-in-place pertain to you regardless of when you return. 
  • See additional details for on-campus and off-campus students below. 

ON-CAMPUS STUDENTS 

For students living in Duke-provided housing (including Avana, Blue Light, and the Washington Duke), during the duration of the stay-in-place period:

  • On-campus students must remain in their residence hall room or apartment at all times except for essential activities.
  • On-campus students may only leave their residence hall room or apartment for essential activities, such as:
    • picking up food from Duke Dining locations
    • participating in surveillance testing when called
    • seeking medical care
    • picking up essential supplies such as toiletries or mail (please note that pick-up times will be limited)
    • spending time outdoors for exercise and recreation in a manner that does not increase the potential spread of COVID-19, in a maximum group of 3. This means no spikeball or other group outdoor games, even if masked and socially distanced. 
  • On-campus students will only have DukeCard access to their assigned residential space, to certain surveillance testing sites (check Duke Unitedfor location information as this may change), and Duke Dining locations. 
  • On-campus students are expected to remain on campus grounds for the duration of the stay-in-place period and limit any unnecessary movement or activity outside of their room/apartment.  
  • All dining will be pick-up only. NO eating together, either indoor or outdoor. 
  • Maximum group size for undergraduates OUTSIDE on campus is 3 people (you and two other people, preferably in your bubble), with masking and social distancing required at all times. This EXCLUDES dining—no eating together, whether indoor or outdoor. 
  • No group gatherings indoors. Common rooms and other gathering spaces in residence halls will be closed until further notice. 
  • A curfew of 9:00 p.m. will be in place for all undergraduate students on campus. This means you must be back in your residence hall by this time. 

OFF-CAMPUS STUDENTS 

For students living off-campus in the Durham area, during the duration of the stay-in-place period:

  • Students living off-campus may not come to campus for any purpose except to:
    • participate in surveillance testing when called,
    • seek medical care at Student Health, 
    • pick up grab-and-go food orders at the Crown Commons express pick up (5 minute limit).
  • Students living off-campus may only visit certain surveillance testing locations, but will be expected to show up for testing when called to do so. Visit the Duke United site for details.
  • Students living off-campus will not have access to campus facilities for any other purpose, including visiting Duke Dining locations (aside from Crown Commons express pick up) or utilizing other public spaces like the Bryan Center, Brodhead Center, etc.
  • We strongly encourage students living off-campus to limit any unnecessary movement or activity outside of their apartment/house to limit potential contact or spread with members of the community.
  • We strongly encourage students living off-campus to make appropriate arrangements for food and necessary supplies to minimize contact with any members of the community.

RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS

IF YOU FEEL SICK: If you feel sick, you should call Student Health during business hours at 919-681-9355 and choose option 2 to speak to a triage nurse if you are experiencing any symptoms or have any concerns.

DINING: Find information on dining locations and hours, mobile ordering, and menus and nutrition facts from Duke Dining.

WELLNESS RESOURCES:

BLUE DEVILS CARE: 24/7 telemental-health support to all students at no cost, through immediate and scheduled appointments. Visit BlueDevilsCare.duke.edu and use code: DUKE2020.

CAPS: Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) offers many services to Duke students, including telemental-health appointments. Any student can call 919-660-1000 to speak with someone, or for assistance with referrals in your local community.

DUKEREACH: DukeReach will help you identify support services from among the variety of resources across campus or in your local community. You can contact DukeReach at 919-681-2455 or by emailing dukereach@duke.edu.

DUWELL: DuWell engages students through a variety of wellness experiences across campus in an effort to manage stress and reduce anxiety while emphasizing self-care.

“TWO-CLICK TO CONNECT” FORM: In just two clicks, you can select the category of person who will reach out to you within 24-48 hours, be it a trained Peer For You responder or a DukeReach staff member. These individuals are here to discuss whatever’s on your mind, help guide you through stressful times, and connect you to resources. Visit https://bit.ly/TwoClickSupport.

Vaccination of Remaining Faculty and Staff

This message was sent by email to all Duke faculty and staff.

Thursday, March 11, 2021

Dear Colleagues,

The State of North Carolina announced that it will expand eligibility for COVID-19 vaccination to include a subset of Group 4 (Adults at High Risk for Exposure and Increased Risk of Severe Illness, Homeless, and Incarcerated Individuals) beginning March 17. At this time, college students in congregate housing are projected to be eligible for vaccination beginning April 7.

As a result, Duke will be inviting all faculty and staff who have not already been contacted to register for the vaccine in the coming week. Those faculty and staff identified as eligible in Group 3 (frontline essential workers) will receive an email from Duke Employee Health by Friday, March 12 inviting them to schedule an appointment.  All others on the Duke payroll, including teaching assistants and research assistants, will receive an email early next week with an opportunity to schedule an appointment beginning March 17. Appointments will be added as supply becomes available, so individuals should continue to check for availability every few days.

Please note that Duke Health continues to receive a limited supply of vaccines and cannot accommodate the current demand from eligible individuals. We strongly encourage you to explore all options for vaccination, such as local public health departments, pharmacies and other providers that may have additional supply. If you received your COVID-19 vaccine outside of Duke Employee Health, please submit your documentation to Duke Employee Health.

As a reminder, the criteria for eligibility and the amount of vaccine available are both controlled by the State of North Carolina, not Duke University or Duke Health. The availability of the vaccine will continue to dictate how many and when eligible faculty and staff will be able to schedule appointments for vaccination with Duke Health. In addition, Duke Health is still prioritizing underserved populations and those at highest risk who have not yet received their vaccinations.

We are hopeful that vaccine supply will continue to increase in the coming weeks and months. Our hope is to make the vaccination available to as many individuals as possible, as quickly as possible. In the meanwhile, everyone should continue wearing a mask, maintaining social distance, and frequent hand washing to keep everyone safe as we see our way to the end of this pandemic. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Kyle Cavanaugh
Vice President, Administration

Carol Epling, MD, MSPH
Director, Employee Occupational Health and Wellness

Gail Shulby, RN, MA, CPPS
Chief of Staff to the Executive Vice President, Duke Health

Cameron R. Wolfe, MBBS (Hons), MPH, FIDSA
Associate Professor of Medicine, Infectious Diseases, Duke Health

Co-Leaders of the Duke COVID Vaccination Work Group

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