The University of Notre Dame, in consultation with LabCorp, conducted nearly 12,000 pre-matriculation COVID-19 tests of students before starting classes on campus today, with less than one-third of 1 percent positive tests.
The 11,836 included some 8,600 students, and other students for graduate and vocational schools. Of the total, 33 students, or 0.28%, test positive and cannot arrive on campus until they are removed by medical professionals.
“I commend our students, their families, the University’s COVID Response Unit, University Health Services and our partner LabCorp for taking the time to complete this formidable undertaking,” said University President Rev. John I. Jenkins, CSC. “We wanted to make sure our returning students did not pose a health threat to the South Bend community.”
In addition to screening for matriculation, Notre Dame has conducted a detailed analysis of counties across the nation whose students would arrive to identify students coming from so-called hot spots that may warrant additional screening after they enter campus. come.
“As we begin the academic year, we will continue to make data-based decisions with the latest information in collaboration with our local public health officials and in consultation with outside medical experts,” Marie Lynn Miranda, de Charles and Jill Fischer Provost of the University, said. “We will continue to wait in our ongoing work to provide a healthy and safe environment for our students, faculty and staff.”
The campus opened after months of preparation which included the following:
- Father Jenkins announced the opening of plans on May 18, to give him and his team time to put together a robust plan.
- Eliminate fall break and post-Thanksgiving return to campus to limit chances of re-infection.
- Discontinue studies abroad.
- While planning instruction personally, at the same time created the ability to deliver distance learning as circumstances dictate.
- Established a close working relationship with an interdisciplinary team at the Cleveland Clinic, as well as with health care officials and local hospitals.
- Established protocols for testing, monitoring, quarantine and isolation.
- Tested all students before their arrival on campus (less than 0.28% were positive).
- A high-capacity test center set up on campus, accessible by car or on foot.
- Encourage teleworking for non-campus staff to perform their duties.
- Encourage managers to allow for potentially flexible work schedules.
- Two days of paid time added to existing benefits for employees who contract COVID-19, or whose family members do.
- Extended to 30 days, from 15, emergency care for children and elderly backup for all faculties and staff, students add to this benefit.
- Optimized HVAC systems for COVID-19 transmission prevention.
- Purchased separate housing and online instruction for students who may need to be quarantined or isolated.
- Set up a custom computer application for all students, faculties and staff to report on their health every day.
Refresh through the numbers
The following are among the measures taken to make the campus as safe as possible:
- 100,000 canvas masks were distributed to students, staff and faculty; three to each individual with a reserve ban.
- 50,000+ signs and blankets for health and safety camps saturate campus, remind everyone to wear masks, keep a safe distance from each other, wash hands frequently and participate in other health and safety practices.
- 14,000 bottle-cleaner bottles were deployed on campus.
- 12,000 pre-matriculation tests were performed.
- 12,000 “Welcome Back” kits for all students include masks, hand sanitizers and thermometers.
- 10,000 gallons of sanitizer are in stock.
- 3,000 sanitizer stations have been installed on campus.
- 958 electric hand dryers were switched off and replaced by paper towel dispenser.
- 370 light pole banners were hung with health / safety messages.
- 207 paper towel dispensers were added.
- 50 “ambassadors” are obliged to remind people to wear masks and maintain a safe distance.
- 27 campus ballrooms, auditoriums and other large event spaces were redesigned to accommodate physical distance for high enrollment classes.
