by Kelly Nee | Managing Editor
SCRANTON – The University of Scranton is implementing a new approach to testing that will target the most heavily affected groups.
Stan Zygmunt, director of news and media relations, said that the university is aiming to conduct 1,200 screening tests per week. These tests will primarily be offered to groups of students who have exhibited the highest number of cases. Such groupings include certain activities, residence halls, majors, class years and more.
“This is a proactive approach in that it allows us to test all those who are on-campus, including those who are asymptomatic,” Zygmunt said.
This new approach to testing also includes employees who are on campus.
Given that there are more than 1,200 residential students, testing will take place over the course of a few weeks. Students grouped in the first round were told to make appointments between Sept. 15 and 17.
University students received their weekly Health and Safety update on Sept. 14, which included the most recent coronavirus statistics. The numbers are as follows:
- 87 positive student cases
- 109 students in isolation
- 329 students in quarantine
- 44 students discontinuing quarantine
- 0 reported positive employee cases
- 6 employees in isolation
- 1 employee in quarantine
- 5 employees discontinuing quarantine
This new testing plan rolls out today — just one day before all in-person classes pivot to online learning for a period of two weeks.