UT COVID-19 Update

May 20, 2022

Campus & Community Trends

PTT Dashbaord
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. 
PTT Dashboard
Campus Case Numbers Still Low
While remaining comparatively low, COVID-19 case levels and positivity rates are rising slightly. As of May 19, active campus case numbers were 167.
Testing Levels Decline to almost 1,000
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 just above 1,000 this week.

Protocols, Policies, Programs

International Travel Update
Effective May 17, 2022, The University of Texas System UTS190 International Travel Policy no longer refers to a global pandemic as a determining factor in categorizing countries as High Risk. As a result, the number of countries now requiring IOC approval is significantly reduced and is included on the Restricted Regions List. Requests for travel to these countries must be submitted via the international travel process at least five weeks prior to departure. Also, note that although some countries do not require IOC approval, all international travel must be registered in the UT Austin International Travel Registry. Please visit the Texas Global Risk and Safety website for resources concerning international travel for faculty, staff, and students.
Masking Guidance
As we have throughout the pandemic, we 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.
With the availability of vaccines and prevention and treatment options, UT continues to align 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.
FREE COVID-19 Testing for Staff and Faculty
UT still offers 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.
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.
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. 

Resources

Daily Symptom Screening
COVID-19 Vaccines and Testing
UT COVID-19 Dashboard
6,291
Total positive cases among students, faculty and staff from 8/26/21 through 5/19/22.
167
Estimated active cases as of 5/19/22, up 37 from 4/28/22.
3.7%
Combined student and faculty/staff PCT positivity rate over the past 7 days (63 positive out of 1,703 total tests).
31.41%
Combined clinical positivity rate among students, faculty, and staff over the past 7 days (49 positive out of 156 tests).
A case is included in the estimated active case counts for 10 days following the date of symptom onset.
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