The Nov. 2 COVID-19 Dashboard update revealed another week with a low caseload on campus.  

From Oct. 26 – Nov. 1, the University administered 461 random and symptomatic COVID-19 tests. However, the Earle Student Health Center confirmed only 8 positive cases. This reflects a positivity rate of 1.74%, an increase from the previous week’s 0.23% positivity rate.

Along with a 1.74% positivity rate, there was also an increase in the utilization of on-campus isolation and quarantine spaces. The update indicated that 24 students are currently in quarantine, an increase from the 3 students in quarantine last week.  Only 8 of the 24 students are quarantined on campus, thus increasing the on-campus quarantine space utilization from 1% last week to 4% this week.  

In addition to the 461 student tests, 2 employee tests were also administered, resulting in 0 positive cases. These tests were administered upon reported COVID-19 symptoms or exposure to an infected individual.

Beyond Furman, 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 289 to 314 new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 individuals.  

The two-week percent positive rate in Greenville County has also increased from 13.8% to 14.1%, which is classified as “high” by SC DHEC. The acute hospital bed occupancy in the Upstate has slightly increased, moving from 78% to 79%.

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