Bradley's COVID-19 Positivity Rate Jumps To 8.3%

Bradley University is reporting 18 new cases of COVID-19 among the campus community this week.

From Aug. 28-Sept. 3, a total of 216 tests were administered by Bradley University Health Services. That's fewer than the 250 to 300 tests the university said it would conduct weekly. Results on seven tests are pending.

University spokeswoman Renee Charles said Friday that Bradley is still working towards the 250-300 test goal, but is making adjustments as more faculty and students opt for full remote learning or teaching. People randomly selected who aren't on campus are exempt from the testing requirements.

The university reported a positivity rate of 8.33% this week, up from 2.5% last week. The overall average rate is 5.46%. Twenty-seven people have tested positive since the semester began.

Charles said there are a "few floors" currently under quarantine in residence halls, but said she couldn't identify the halls or floors. She said those students are quarantined out of an abundance of caution because someone they live with or are in close contact with have tested positive for the coronavirus.

Bradley's positivity rate does not factor in negative results from tests taken off-campus, as those results cannot be tracked by the university.

Bradley University employs surveillance testing, wherein a random sample of students and staff is selected each week to undergo COVID-19 nasal swab testing.

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