NIU reports five new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday

DeKALB – Northern Illinois University reported five new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday: four students and one employee.

The total cases to date rose to 687, although 647 of them have fully recovered.

There are 40 active cases on campus, all but seven in students. The school also announced seven new recoveries on Tuesday.

The school’s quarantine and isolation use rose to 3.7%.

During the week beginning Jan. 18, 1361 COVID-19 tests were administered for surveillance testing. There were 11 positive tests and a positivity rate of 0.8%.

As in the fall, students were required to take a COVID-19 test before being allowed to move into university housing this spring. NIU will post the results in daily totals as they come in.

According to the school, 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 may 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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