Signs on the entrance to New Residence Hall at Northern Illinois University reminds students to wear a mask as they enter the building Aug. 19 during the first of five move-in days at NIU in DeKalb. Students, parents, staff and volunteer helpers were required to observe COVID-19 safety precautions set out by the school including wearing masks and maintaining social distance.
Mark Busch file photo – mbusch@shawmedia.com
Signs on the entrance to New Residence Hall at Northern Illinois University reminds students to wear a mask as they enter the building Aug. 19 during the first of five move-in days at NIU in DeKalb. Students, parents, staff and volunteer helpers were required to observe COVID-19 safety precautions set out by the school including wearing masks and maintaining social distance.
Omar Matos, a first-year law student from Texarkana, Texas, walks past the NIU sign at Northern Illinois University Sept. 1. Masks can be seen on students all over campus as they adjust to attending classes amid the pandemic.
Mark Busch file photo – mbusch@shawmedia.com
Omar Matos, a first-year law student from Texarkana, Texas, walks past the NIU sign at Northern Illinois University Sept. 1. Masks can be seen on students all over campus as they adjust to attending classes amid the pandemic.

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For the second day in a row Northern Illinois University announced five new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday.

Since announcing 106 cases between Sept. 3 and Sept. 8, the school has reported just 35 since. NIU also announced 13 more students were recovered as of Wednesday.

In total, there have been 187 positive tests, of which 135 recovered. There remain 50 positive students and two positive employees. Three employees recovered, as have 132 students.

According to the school, 10.2% of its quarantine and isolation areas are in use.

The university welcomed students back to campus Aug. 19, and classes began Aug. 24. Students living on campus were required to submit proof of a negative COVID-19 test before move-in. NIU reported that of the 2,037 tested before move-in, 39 tested positive, and the university will welcome them back once their quarantine period is over.

Of the 383 students tested last week per NIU's surveillance testing program, five positive cases were identified, according to new data Monday. It was a 1.3% positivity rating, up from 0.43 in the program's first week.

The surveillance program the week prior returned one positive case out of 231 tests during the week of Sept. 8. The program tests about 125 students a day at random as an attempt to better assess and catch viral outbreaks on campus more quickly to mitigate continued community spread.

Although specific surveillance testing results will be reported weekly on Mondays, positive tests produced from the program will be included in daily statistics. The surveillance testing will continue while the undergraduate courses remain online.

Daily COVID-19 case data from the DeKalb County Health Department may not reflect daily data from NIU because some students or employees may live outside the county and still test positive for the virus.

NIU staff are encouraged to get tested via state testing sites or their health care provider on their own. Students living off campus in Greek housing and otherwise also are not required to get tested, although anyone experiencing symptoms is asked to remain at home.

Students living on campus paid a $7.90 per credit hour health fee at the beginning of the semester, which covers the nasal swab testing services at Northwestern Medicine Student Health Center in the Health Services Building on campus.

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