Just two weeks after reporting its first positive COVID-19 case through almost two months of testing, Quinnipiac University has seen a minor spike in cases this week.
The university announced on its COVID-19 dashboard that there were 11 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the last seven days, including the first on-campus positive-case. As of Oct. 9, that brings the grand total to 13 total cases through 14,982 tests, giving the university a 0.08 percent positivity rate.
The university’s risk level has gone from green to yellow, indicating a “Low to moderate risk level.”
Even with this recent spike, Quinnipiac is fairing pretty well compared to its neighboring universities. It currently has the second-fewest total cases with 13, behind the University of New Haven which has five total cases. The two schools continuing to see significant spikes are Central Connecticut State University and UConn, which have 81 and 284 total cases, respectively.
The state of Connecticut, like all the universities within it, has seen an increase in total cases as well. According to the state’s COVID-19 data tracker, Connecticut has 59,748 total COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 8. The number of total COVID-19 associated deaths has gone up to 4,527, with COVID-19 hospitalizations down to 128.
Starting Oct. 8, Connecticut will enter phase three of the state’s reopening plan. The phase enforces several guidelines, with the main ones involving gathering capacities. Indoor private gatherings, such as weddings, are allowed up to 50 percent capacity with no more than 100 people. Outdoor private gatherings are allowed up to 150 people, and gatherings at private residences are limited to 25 people. Restaurants are allowed 75 percent capacity indoors, with seating spaced at least six feet apart.
The future remains unclear for Quinnipiac, and other universities as the state continues to reopen with flu season lurking in the distance.