COVID-19 update from App State - week of Sept. 14 - 18

Posted 09/18/20 at 5:45 p.m.

App State’s weekly progress report to campus provides the latest operational updates and important information related to the fall 2020 semester and beyond.

Fall 2020: Answers to trending questions:

As fall semester classes continue, staff and faculty continue working steadily, in accordance with UNC System expectations and our educational mission, to assess and adjust every aspect of the Appalachian Experience to keep health and safety at the forefront. 

App State Data update:

In today's weekly campus update from Chancellor Everts, she shared the university has reported three clusters this week. Combined, these three clusters currently have a total of nine active cases. The university is using less than 10% of its currently available quarantine space.

The Sept. 11 update to campus shared information on the most recent enhancements to the App State dashboard as well as additional information about the App State COVID-19 Active Cases graph. Enhancements included an On-Campus Testing chart with weekly on-campus testing data, numbers of positive tests and the percentage of positive cases. The chart is updated each Monday.

• About the recent increase in reported active cases: Since the beginning of the semester, App State has held five COVID-19 “pop-up” testing events. This is in addition to on-going testing at Student Health Service. More than 4,500 students, faculty and staff have received COVID-19 tests on campus.

  Readers have noted a recent increase in active cases. Active cases represent those individuals who are in isolation. Active case status and isolation periods are determined by public health. App State case counts are updated daily with data reported to us by AppHealthCare, our local public health agency. Active case counts may decrease, increase or stay the same as public health moves individuals in and out of isolation.

  • While many factors affect the number of active cases, one factor is an increase in testing. As noted above, the On-Campus Testing chart includes on-campus testing data and is updated each Monday. It is important to note that although positive tests have increased, our current percentage of positive cases is 3.3%. App State’s percentage of positive cases is consistently lower than North Carolina’s percentage, which is currently 5.1%.  

  • The App State COVID-19 Cumulative Cases graph, which includes data since March 27, will either stay the same or increase as public health confirms new cases. Each active case is included once in the cumulative count. New cases confirmed by public health that are past the isolation stage are also included in the cumulative count.

Upcoming COVID-19 testing events

The university is offering free COVID-19 tests for App State students, faculty and staff at “pop-up” testing events each Saturday in September and October from noon - 5 p.m. in the Rivers Street Parking Deck. Both walk-up and drive-up testing will be available. No appointments required; however, you will be asked to show your AppCard.

Visit the university’s COVID-19 Testing page for information on upcoming testing events and on-going testing for students, faculty and staff.

Communications and updates:

• Messages from Chancellor Everts: Chancellor Everts shares weekly updates with campus. These include updates related to UNC System and Board of Governors’ decisions that affect our campus planning, preparations and responses to the pandemic. The latest update includes information about the on-campus voting site for this election cycle. Read these messages here. 

• HR Town Halls: Human Resources will be holding regular town hall meetings through September and October. The next town hall will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 22, from 10 - 11:30 a.m. Read the update and register here.

• Operations updates: These logistics updates share key campus operations information, including safety and community expectations. Read the previous update here.

• Clearinghouse website: App State’s coronavirus website is the clearinghouse site to navigate to the latest updates across campus, find information about returning to campus, and see the university's cumulative and active case count dashboard. 

Information coming soon:

• Information on upcoming break closures and building access

• Information on the SlowCOVIDNC Exposure Notification App from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services