Universities in Colorado are becoming COVID-19 hotspots, but that’s not the case at the University of Northern Colorado. Here’s what we know.
By Kelly Ragan
Universities are quickly becoming major COVID-19 outbreak sources in Colorado, with the University of Colorado in Boulder claiming the lead as the largest outbreak in the state. Colorado State University in Fort Collins now at the center of the third-largest outbreak in Colorado, according to state data.
But the University of Northern Colorado isn’t seeing the kind of spikes other nearby universities have experienced.
The NoCo Optimist wanted to learn more about why, so it reached out to UNC spokesperson Katie-Leigh Corder, who responded via email.
How is UNC testing students?
UNC is working to implement surveillance testing, Corder said, which is when groups of people who aren’t sick or symptomatic are tested to help identify positive but asymptomatic cases.
“Surveillance testing started October 1 for student athletes,” Corder said, “and UNC plans to conduct surveillance testing for students who live on campus in the coming weeks.”
Students who test positive are placed in isolation.
UNC also has a function on its website to allow students to report other students and university employees who are showing symptoms, who “are, or should be, in self-isolation or self-quarantine as a result of COVID-19,” according to the website.
Other nearby universities, such as Colorado State University, have taken to wastewater monitoring to catch outbreaks early.
In September, about 900 students were quarantined after wastewater monitoring found high levels of COVID-19, according to a report by The Denver Post.
“UNC isn’t conducting any wastewater monitoring on campus for COVID-19 at this time but is exploring it,” Corder said.
July: 9 cases reported, all students
August: 7 cases reported, 1 employee, 6 students
September: 32 cases reported, 2 employees, 30 students
October (so far): 5 cases reported, all students
Total active cases reported as of October 7: 9
The university has 80 rooms on campus set aside for students living on campus who need to quarantine or isolate, Corder said.
As of October 2, 18 of those 80 rooms were being used – though, Corder said, not all of them had tested positive for COVID-19.
“Not every individual in those rooms is a positive case, as those who have been quarantined are awaiting their COVID-19 test results or have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19,” Corder said.
The NoCo Optimist asked to be put in contact with students in isolation to learn more about the conditions of the isolation rooms and their experience with the process itself, but UNC declined the request, citing student privacy.
Are UNC and the Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment working together?
Corder said UNC leadership is in touch with the health department on an almost-daily basis, working to keep up with changing guidelines and UNC-related positive cases in the county.
“UNC acknowledges that our actions can also impact the local community,” Corder said. “One positive COVID-19 case could have a ripple effect well beyond our campus borders – potentially leading to significant spread and closures of essential services in our area such as grocery stores, restaurants, K-12 schools, businesses and even certain health care services,” Corder said.