University of Maine System COVID Data by Campus
8 — Known Case of UMS students or employees in public health agency Isolation
- 4 UMA: One positive individual released from isolation
- 1 UMaine:
- 3 UMF: Two new positive tests at UMF among residential students, see below.
There are no known cases at the other University of Maine System universities.
The above Data reflects ACTIVE known cases identified through the UMS asymptomatic screening and other testing venues. When an individual is released from an isolation order by a public health agency the active case number shared in the Together for Maine daily update is reduced to reflect that change. UMS is reporting eight known cases today, one more case than the number of cases reported in the 10/20/20 update.
Asymptomatic Screening Update for Fall Safe Return
- 22,063 Tests Results to Date
- 23 positives results representing new diagnoses of COVID-19
The Asymptomatic Screening Dashboard at Together.Maine.edu represents known results on all asymptomatic tests going back to July 22, 2020. About 48 hours passes from the time a test sample is collected and when the results are known.
UMS News
Chancellor’s Keep it Up Tour in Farmington Tomorrow: Chancellor Malloy’s “Keep it Up” tour of the University of Maine System universities was at the University of Maine at Farmington today. In this photo the Chancellor hears from students in a UMF Computer Science Class.
University News
UMaine
UMA:
UMF: Community message from University of Maine President Edward Serna
Dear UMF Community –
As promised in this morning’s message, I’m writing with an update regarding the positive COVID-19 cases on our campus. We’ve had a meeting with the Maine Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and they have reaffirmed that we are following or exceeding all their recommended health and safety guidelines and protocols.
I want to reiterate that our asymptomatic testing program is working as designed. Phases 1, 2, and 3 revealed no positive tests. We have just completed Phase 4 of testing, which included all on-campus students and 100 randomly selected off-campus students, faculty, and staff. As of today, three positive cases have been identified in Phase 4 of testing, and all “close contacts” of COVID-19 positive individuals have been notified. If no one has been in touch with you, that means at this point you have not been identified as having had “close contact.”
What is a Close Contact?:
Per the CDC, for COVID-19, a “close contact” is defined as any individual who was within six feet of an infected person for at least 15 minutes starting from two days before illness onset (or, for asymptomatic patients, two days before positive test specimen collection) until the time the patient is isolated. Face coverings greatly restrict the spread of the virus even when there is close contact.
If no one is in touch with you, that means you have not been identified as having had “close contact.” When there has been no “close contact,” changes in campus workspaces or classroom operations are not warranted.
Many of you have asked what the threshold for a campus closure is, so I would also like to shed some light on how those decisions are made.
What Constitutes a Campus Closure?:
I would also like to address the campus closure decision-making process. The University of Maine System (UMS), in collaboration with the Science Advisory Board, follows over a dozen factors related to the spread of the coronavirus and our capacity to handle positive cases on each campus. Campus-level assessments are based on a variety of epidemiological and other data, both quantitative and qualitative. These data include, but are not limited to: new case rates; positivity rates for the university, the region, and the state; and, the guidance of civil authorities for K-12 education in the region. That information and much more is publicly posted every week on the Maine CDC website. There is not a specific formula or strict cutoff point, such as a positivity rate above a particular threshold, or a specific number of new cases per capita. That is because no single metric fully captures the risk of COVID-19 in a county or within a school. The final decision to close will be made by the Chancellor, in collaboration with the University President and Board of Trustees.
In closing, I cannot emphasize enough the importance of staying the course and following the health and safety guidelines set forth by UMF, UMS, and the Maine CDC. Wear your face coverings, keep your distance, wash your hands, participate in required asymptomatic testing when chosen, and make use of the hand sanitizer stations and disinfectant wipes in classrooms and entryways.
We have five weeks left until Thanksgiving break and our shift to fully remote learning. I have confidence that our community can curb the spread of COVID-19 on campus. It is because of caring and diligent students and staff like yourself that we have been so successful and will continue to be, moving forward.
All the best during these challenging times,
Edward Serna
President
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