Read the announcement on Monday's COVID-19 dashboard update
Sept. 4 update: The dashboard was updated Sept. 4, given the Labor Day holiday on Sept. 7. The Sept. 4 numbers reflect results from Aug. 31 to Sept. 3. Beginning on Tuesday, Sept. 8, the dashboard will be updated each weekday before noon, to display a 7-day average.
The Aug. 31 update to the COVID-19 online dashboard reflects new numbers in test results administered by Schiffert Health Center.
Virginia Tech reports a total of 178 positive COVID-19 test results since testing began three weeks ago. A total of 10,053 tests have been administered. Currently, 41 residence hall rooms are occupied by students in isolation, or 23.8 percent of the rooms available.
This increase in the number of positive cases was not unexpected. The transitions from benchmarking the health of residential students moving onto campus to diagnostic testing, screening, and surveillance testing was expected to coincide with the increase in reported positive cases. The university’s COVID-19 response plan was developed with local health officials who have been aiding the university in anticipation of an increase in the number of positive cases.
Today’s report underscores the need for all members of the university community to strictly adhere to public health guidelines:
- To wear a mask or face covering at all times, indoors and outdoors.
- Avoid large gatherings and remain physically distant from those around you.
- Wash your hands frequently.
In addition to strictly following public health guidelines, it is imperative that students, faculty, and staff who have symptoms or believe that they may have contracted COVID-19 inform university health professionals or their local health practitioner. This will allow for good health counseling and testing and effective contact tracing through the Virginia Department of Health to prevent the spread of the virus.
Virginia Tech maintains it is counterproductive for the university to punish students by retroactively investigating how they contracted COVID-19. However, the university will use its conduct process to address dangerous behavior that creates conditions that spreads the virus.
Virginia Tech's overarching goal remains public health and the health of our students, faculty, and staff.
