April 19, 2024
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NIU weekly COVID-19 update: 50 new virus cases

By Katrina J.E. Milton

In this file photo, signs on the entrance to New Residence Hall at Northern Illinois University remind students to wear a mask as they enter the building on 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)

DeKALB – Over the past week, from Nov. 30 through Monday, Northern Illinois University reported 50 new cases of COVID-19: eight employees and 42 students.

The university also reported 53 recoveries: six employees and 47 students.

Of the remaining 45 active cases on campus, 39 are in students. Since the start of the school year Aug. 19, there have been 402 cases of COVID-19 and 357 recoveries.

According to the school’s website, 93.62% of the quarantine and isolation beds are available.

Surveillance testing is done weekly, on a random selection of students and staff on campus via rapid testing, which allows NIU to locate and identify viral spread more quickly. During the week of Nov. 29, 1,053 surveillance tests were administered, resulting in 29 positive test results. NIU’s positivity rate is 2.75%.

NIU has a total enrollment of 16,769 for the fall semester, which includes undergraduate and graduate students, and 3,694 students living on campus.

As part of NIU’s COVID-19 protocol, all students and employees on campus are required to participate in weekly surveillance testing unless they provide proof of vaccination.

According to Gov. JB Pritzker’s new mandates, all higher education students and staff are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19. NIU had approved a similar mandate, including a required vaccine for students living on campus, before the governor’s announced mandate in late August.

According to university officials, a 14-day quarantine begins after individuals first show signs of COVID-19 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 might not reflect daily data from NIU because some students or employees may live outside the county and still test positive for the virus.

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