The COVID-19 Dashboard was updated Sept. 28 showing a decrease in Furman’s caseload. The Earle Student Health Center administered 12 tests and confirmed 4 positive results during the week of Sept. 21. On-campus isolation and quarantine spaces decreased to 7% capacity. No employees tested positive after 2 reported experiencing symptoms.

New metrics from the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) revealed that the two-week cumulative incidence rate in Greenville County increased, showing 199.2 new cases per 100,000 individuals. This trend indicates the cumulative incidence rate continues to increase. The hospital bed occupancy for the upstate also increased this week to 74%. The two-week positive rate decreased from 14.7% to 13.7% but is still classified as “high” by DHEC.

Despite a decreasing campus caseload, a Sept. 23 Furman Focused update revealed that random asymptomatic testing will begin Sept. 29. This mandatory random-sample testing will occur every Tuesday and Friday. Furman will test 20% of the student population each week in the Daniel Chapel Parking Lot.

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