NIU reports three new cases of COVID-19 on campus Thursday; quarantine use down to 8%

DeKALB - For the second day in a row, Northern Illinois University reported three new cases, all in students, of the novel coronavirus, bringing the total number of cases up to 505 Thursday.

The school also reported three new recoveries, two in students and one in an employee, as active cases on campus remained at 56 (48 students and eight employees).

To date, there have been 463 students test positive for the viral respiratory disease, and 42 employees, and 449 have fully recovered (415 students and 34 employees).

According to surveillance testing results released Monday, 12 new cases were reported from the randomly selected students among 506 tests, for a positivity rate of 2.4%.

The school's quarantine and isolation use dropped to 8.0%, down from 8.6% the day prior.

President Lisa Freeman called for a two-week pause to in-person classes Sept. 11 amid a surge in COVID-19 cases connected to campus. She had cited large gatherings and parties as the main source of transmission of COVID-19. The decision was made the same day the Illinois Department of Public Health designated DeKalb County as a warning zone because of a surge in cases. Classes resumed Sept. 28.

The university first 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 moving in.

According to the school, a 14-day quarantine begins after individuals first show signs of symptoms, not when they receive a positive test for the virus. A case is considered recovered after the 14-day period is over.

Although specific surveillance testing results are reported weekly on Mondays, positive tests found through the program are included in daily statistics.

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.