The prevalence of COVID-19 on the UNI campus remained relatively low last week, with only a very slight increase in the campus positivity rate. 

According to data released Friday, Feb. 26 at noon, the 75 tests conducted from Feb. 22-28 through the Student Health Center resulted in six positive cases, for an 8.0% campus positivity rate. This is an increase of less than 3% from last week’s rate of 6.85%.

Furthermore, the positivity rate may decrease slightly today when the Student Health Center updates last week’s data to include any tests conducted on Friday. Since the end-of-week updates only include data collected through Thursday, Friday numbers are added to the weekly total by noon on the following Monday and are therefore not included in the NI’s weekly analysis.

The university also reported eight self-reported cases of COVID-19 from Feb. 22-28, four from employees and four from students. However, these self-reported cases may also be counted in the Student Health Center weekly totals and therefore, the numbers cannot be combined for a grand total.

COVID-19 vaccines have begun to be distributed on campus to UNI health care workers, police officers and other eligible staff and students. However, according to a new website launched by the state of Iowa this week, most students who are not essential workers, first responders, teachers or childcare workers should not expect to be vaccinated until at least April. More information on Iowa’s timeline for vaccine distribution is available at vaccinate.iowa.gov/eligibility/.