Positivity rate on campus remains below 1%

Bria Foley, a senior pre-med major, hands a package that contains a vial, straw and alcohol wipe to a walk-up test to a walk-up testee at the East Stadium COVID-19 saliva test station on Jan. 19.

Craig Chandler | University Communication

Bria Foley, a senior pre-med major, hands out a saliva test collection kit at the East Stadium COVID-19 saliva test station on Jan. 19. While the saliva testing has transitioned to a random mitigation strategy, students, instructors and staff who are not symptomatic for the virus can still get tested through the program at any time. Individuals who are symptomatic or who suspect exposure should be tested through the TestNebraska site on campus or the University Health Center (by appointment only).

The University of Nebraska–Lincoln reported 35 positive cases of COVID-19 during the previous week (April 11-17).

During that same span, 5,321 tests were conducted on students, faculty and staff. The positivity rate during the week was .65%.

Tests are conducted through the university’s saliva-based reentry testing program, the TestNebraska facility by the Cather Dining Center (on 17th Street between R and Vine streets), the University Health Center and off-campus medical facilities.

Since university-specific testing began on Aug. 12, 2,953 total cases have been recorded out of 136,758 tests, for a positivity rate of 2.2%.

This report is generated weekly and presented in Nebraska Today every Monday. Data is gathered from the university’s COVID-19 dashboard, which is tracking case and test totals daily. All COVID-19 testing information is provided to the university from the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department.

Learn more about the university’s ongoing response to COVID-19.