Four new cases of COVID-19 announced at NIU Wednesday

On Wednesday, Northern Illinois University reported four new cases of COVID-19: three students and one employee.

That brings the total number of cases to date to 776, although 744 of them have fully recovered.

There remain 32 active cases on campus, all but seven in students. The school also announced nine new recoveries Wednesday.

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

During the week beginning Feb. 15, a total of 2,087 COVID-19 tests were administered for surveillance testing. There were 8 positive tests and a positivity rate of 0.4%.

As in the fall, students were required to take a COVID-19 test before being allowed to move in to 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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