| Campus & Community Trends
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Testing by Cohort
This dashboard continues to track and compare weekly PCT testing of undergraduate students (by graduating class), graduate students, and faculty and staff.
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Campus Case Numbers Continue Slight Decline
While remaining comparatively low, COVID-19 case levels continue to drop slightly. As of April 28, active campus case numbers were 130.
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Testing Levels Decline to almost 2,000
More community members are testing via home kits versus PCT than earlier in the academic year when case levels were peaking. Testing levels are hovering at 2,000 this week.
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Protocols, Policies, Programs
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FREE COVID-19 Testing for Staff and Faculty
As we have throughout the pandemic, we still offer free testing to every employee on campus. If you have symptoms of COVID-19, please visit the UTHA website for information on testing, which is covered by insurance. If you are symptom-free you can participate in our Proactive Community Testing (PCT) in various locations on campus. Please check the PCT website for locations and times.
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Self-Test Kits Expiration Dates
Please check the expiration date for any COVID-19 self-test kits you may have in your possession. Expired COVID-19 self-test kits should be disposed of by breaking down and recycling the box and paper inserts and throwing the remainder of the non-recyclable items in the trash. Using a self-test kit past the expiration date may produce unreliable results.
Self-test kits continue to be available for any current UT student, faculty or staff member for free at various distribution sites throughout campus. Simply show your UTID to the staff member onsite at any of the locations.
Free at-home tests are also available for home delivery at COVIDTests.gov.
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Second Booster
Based upon the FDA’s regulatory action, the CDC has updated its recommendations to allow certain immunocompromised individuals and people over the age of 50 who received an initial booster dose at least 4 months ago to be eligible for another mRNA booster. The second booster will increase protection against severe disease from COVID-19.
Vaccines and boosters are still available to faculty, staff and students.
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Masking Guidance
As conditions in our community continue to improve, and with the availability of vaccines and prevention and treatment options, UT has aligned its recommended masking guidance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at this time. Our current COVID-19 Community Level is low. The CDC’s guidance explains that individuals in low-level communities do not need to wear a mask, regardless of vaccination status and including in K-12 and early education settings. People may choose to mask at any time, for any reason, and it is still recommended that individuals who are immunocompromised or at high-risk continue to take precautions. As we have throughout the pandemic, we will continue to monitor local and campus data, consult with our public health experts, and consider unique attributes of our campus environment to determine recommendations and guidance.
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From UT Healthcare Professionals
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Kids Under 5 Are Still Awaiting COVID VaccinesIn an interview with the Texas Standard, Dr. Alefiyah Malbari, head of the Division of Ambulatory Pediatrics and an associate professor in the Department of Pediatrics at Dell Medical School answers common questions about the risks of long COVID-19 and the mental health challenges of the pandemic.
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5,990
Total positive cases among students, faculty and staff from 8/26/21 through 4/28/22.
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130
Estimated active cases as of 4/28/22, down 18 from 4/14/22.
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1.33%
Combined student and faculty/staff PCT positivity rate over the past 7 days (42 positive out of 3,163 total tests)
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15.38%
Combined clinical positivity rate among students, faculty, and staff over the past 7 days (24 positive out of 156 tests).
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A case is included in the estimated active case counts for 10 days following the date of symptom onset.
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