COVID-19 Update for Texas State Faculty & Staff
Dr. Emilio Carranco, Texas State University Chief Medical Officer, Director, Student Health Center | October 21, 2020
Dear Texas State Faculty and Staff,
I want to update you on the COVID-19 situation and the university’s efforts to prevent the spread of infection on our campuses. The university developed a set of health and safety measures based on the best guidance from the CDC and available COVID-19 research. Our goals were to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission and to create a learning, living and work environment that was as safe as possible. We are eight weeks into the fall semester and the health and safety measures appear to be effective in preventing the spread of COVID-19.
COVID-19 Cases Have Declined
The number of positive cases increased after the Labor Day holiday but have since declined significantly. During the fourth week of classes, 115 positive cases were reported—the highest number reported in a week. Last week, 30 positive cases were reported. The number of cases declined despite increased testing on campus. COVID-19 testing has increased from approximately 500 tests per week to 1200 tests per week. For information on the COVID-19 situation on campus, go to Texas State’s COVID-19 Dashboard which is updated regularly.
COVID-19 Transmission is Low
The positivity rate (percentage of all COVID-19 tests that are positive) when lower than 5% is an indication of sufficient testing and provides an assessment of COVID-19 transmission in the community. Early in the fall semester when testing was limited to persons who were symptomatic or close contacts, the university positivity rate was 9.6%. With the addition of free COVID-19 testing on campus and an increase in testing, positivity rates during the last three weeks have been 1.6%, 2.5% and 1.6%. Such positivity rates suggest a low incidence of COVID-19 transmission in our campus community.
Texas State COVID-19 Testing Program
Testing is essential for identifying positive cases and for assessing the incidence of COVID-19 in our campus community. A random sample of faculty, staff and students will be selected weekly for Free COVID-19 Testing during the fall semester. It is important that those selected complete testing. Results of testing will inform university decisions and guide planning.
Contact Tracing Can Stop Transmission
Contact tracing is extremely important for breaking the chain of COVID-19 transmission. An exposed person typically becomes infectious about three days later. If close contacts can be identified and instructed to quarantine before they become infectious, we can break the chain of transmission. The university has expanded its contact tracing team to 18 contact tracers which facilitates contact tracing within 24 hours of a positive case report. It is important to report to Bobcat Trace as soon as you have tested positive for COVID-19 or have been notified that you are a close contact. Thus far, contact tracing has not revealed evidence of transmission in classrooms or residence halls, except for a few cases of roommate transmission. Social gathering with friends or family continues to be a common source of exposure to COVID-19.
Safe Social Gathering
While the university’s health and safety measures have been effective, we must not let our guard down. We must keep practicing the prevention measures that have worked. We must learn to gather with friends and family in a safe way. The CDC recently published recommendations for Safe Gathering During Holidays that provide very helpful information.
I appreciate your hard work in helping the university to accomplish its academic mission despite the challenges of the pandemic. The university continues to assess the evolving COVID-19 situation on a weekly basis. Let’s keep working together to prevent the spread of COVID-19!
Sincerely,
Dr. Emilio Carranco
Texas State University Chief Medical Officer
Director, Student Health Center