GV COVID-19 campus data update

The GVSU community has had a cumulative total of 2,173 COVID-19 cases since Aug. 1. The university’s update for this brief was from Friday, Jan. 22.  

Through testing results this past week, GVSU’s Virus Action team have so far reported 76 current active cases including 3 faculty member case, 4 staff members, 18 on-campus students, 38 “off-campus Ottawa” students, 11 “off-campus Kent” students and 2 “off-campus other” students with active COVID-19 cases.

“Current active cases” is the count of positive cases reported to the Virus Action Team over the past ten days.  This is an estimate of those currently in isolation, assuming a ten-day symptomatic period following the reporting of a positive test result. Actual periods of isolation are specific to the individual and determined by the county health department.

Testing and Incidence: GVSU’s own testing program has performed 38,960  tests overall since August 21, for a positivity rate of 0.91% from the latest update as of last week.

“GV Surveillance” includes the GV/Spectrum administered programs of: randomized testing, regular testing of high-risk groups, and invited testing of individuals connected to potential clusters. A calendar is available. “GV Total” includes surveillance testing plus all symptomatic/exposure tests administered by Spectrum.

Virus Action Team stresses importance of testing, self-assessment in latest update

The GVSU community was notified on Jan. 21 of the Virus Action Team’s most recent update. In the update, the Virus Action Team reminded the community of crucial steps that need to be taken in order to control the spread of COVID-19. They emphasize the importance of getting testing and regularly filling out self-assessments before coming to campus. 

Faculty and staff who work on campus at least one day a week will be sent weekly invitations to participate in surveillance testing, as will selected student groups, including resident assistants, dining staff and student teachers. Students who regularly attend class on campus will also be randomly selected for testing. Along with participating in surveillance testing, the update notes the importance of documenting test results and symptoms in the online self-assessment.

The Virus Action Team also announced a virtual hall meeting that will be held Feb. 23 from 11 a.m. to noon. This meeting was prompted by the high demand of people seeking more information on vaccines. The link to register for the Zoom webinar can be found on GVSU’s website. 

Indoor dining, much more plans on re-opening Feb. 1

As a part of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services department, the fact-based approach to reopening activities resumes with allowing indoor dining starting Feb. 1. Restaurants will have to meet certain requirements in order to reopen to indoor dining for the public, as will concessions at casinos, movie theaters and stadiums.

Restaurants and bars are only permitted to allow up to 25% capacity with up to 100 people. Reopened dining spaces will also be required to set tables up six-feet apart, each seating up to six people.

Activities which will not be permitted under this order include night clubs, contact sports (professional sports being the exception), water parks and workplaces that can be done remotely.