COVID-19 cases have doubled over the last week at Bowling Green State University.
The weekly update shows 78 new cases from Nov. 4 to Nov. 11. Of those, one is faculty, three are staff, and 74 were students. The report notes that 85 percent of those testing positive live off campus. Last week the university reported 37 new cases. The university now has 51 active cases including one residential student in isolation and another 14 quarantined in residence halls.
Random surveillance tests of 124 asymptomatic students found zero cases; surveillance testing of 639 students targeted groups – athletes, cheerleaders, and marching band who cannot strictly follow the protocols – found six positive cases, a 0.6 percent positivity rate.
Since Aug. 20, the university has done surveillance testing on 4501 asymptomatic individuals, and found 33 positive cases, a 0.7 percent positivity rate.
Chief Health Officer Ben Batey said this is important to control this rise, which is being seen in the county and across the state, as the holidays approach.
“We all have control to turn this tide,” he said. “We’ve done it before, and we can do it again.”
Everyone can commit to keeping six feet apart, or keeping those interactions under 15 minutes, and wearing masks.
Even at Thanksgiving gatherings should be kept small.
Batey said if these protocols are followed he’s confident the trend will head downward.
