The University of Pittsburgh said it has seen an 83% spike in new covid cases this past week and four of its campuses are in a “guarded risk posture.”
Thirty-six students have tested positive for coronavirus since March 16, and 45 are in isolation at the Oakland campus, according to the university’s covid-19 tracker. Two new cases have been reported among faculty or staff.
The university’s Oakland, Greensburg, Bradford and Titusville campuses are at “guarded risk,” while Johnstown is at “elevated risk.”
Pitt said it has seen its daily average of new cases rise from 4.8 to 8.8 in just three days, which is a higher moving average than it has been all term. The majority of positive cases are symptomatic, but 13 are a result of testing offered to asymptomatic students this week, Pitt said.
“It’s critical during the spike in cases to not make any new close contacts,” university officials wrote. “That is how the virus spreads.”
Pitt said it offered additional testing after receiving many requests for testing at its main campus. During the past week of St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, the university said there were reports of large gatherings.
The university said it is possible that a person can get a negative test result when they have covid if the test is taken too early.
Pitt advised students, staff and faculty to continue to wear masks when on campus and off campus.
The university pointed out in its covid tracker that “covid-19 can still spread outdoors,” and masking is required in all shared spaces on campus, indoors and out.
“This is a marathon, not a sprint — and you can’t give up until you cross the finish line,” officials said. “The finish line is close, but we’re not there yet.”
On Thursday, Pitt Chancellor Patrick Gallagher announced that the school, which has operated on a limited in-person basis since the pandemic shutdown last year, plans to return to normal operations in the fall, including reopening university housing at normal capacity and offering a full range of on-campus activities.
