The Oct. 26 COVID-19 Dashboard update revealed the lowest caseload on campus since the Sept. 29 implementation of random asymptomatic testing.

Between Oct. 19-25, the university administered 433 random and symptomatic COVID-19 tests. However, the Earle Student Health Center confirmed only 1 positive case. This reflects a positivity rate of 0.23%, a decrease from the previous week’s 0.92% positivity rate.

Along with a decreased positivity rate, there was a significant reduction in utilization of on-campus isolation and quarantine space. The update indicated that 3 students are currently in quarantine, a decrease from the 20 students in quarantine last week.  Only 1 of the 3 students is quarantined on campus, thus decreasing the on-campus quarantine space utilization from 9% last week to 1% this week. This is the lowest percentage of on-campus utilization since the implementation of random asymptomatic testing.

In addition to 433 student tests, three employee tests were administered, resulting in 1 positive case.  These tests were administered upon reported COVID-19 symptoms or exposure to an infected individual.

Beyond campus, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SC DHEC) released updated disease metrics, showing an increase in the two-week cumulative incidence rate from 235 to 289 new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 individuals.  

The two-week percent positive rate in Greenville County has decreased from 14.2%to 13.8%, but is still classified as ‘high” by SC DHEC.