COVID-19 campus update: latest case rates, news
The Orange County Health Care Agency required students at Pralle-Sodaro Residence Hall to increase their COVID-19 testing to twice a week for a total of four days. DANIEL PEARSON, Staff Photographer
After an individual who tested positive for COVID-19 entered Pralle-Sodaro Hall on Feb. 9, Chapman University’s Office of Residence Life and First Year Experience alerted the residents and employees of the dormitory in an email a week after the fact to address the potential exposure. Following an increase in positive COVID-19 cases in Pralle-Sodaro Hall shortly thereafter, Orange County Health Care Agency (OCHCA) mandated Feb. 22 that all residents of Pralle-Sodaro test twice weekly for COVID-19 — an initiative that lasted until Feb. 25.
While an increase in testing was required, it was noted that students need not quarantine or change other aspects of their routine. However, it was advised that everyone monitor their own health, keeping an eye out for the development of COVID-19 symptoms.
Only three days after the implementation of twice-weekly testing, Residence Life and First Year Experience followed up with another email lifting the requirement. Dave Sundby, the director of Residence Life and First Year Experience, announced it was overturned due to assessments of “current occupancy and active case count” that satisfied a return to once-weekly testing.
Sundby told The Panther he did not have the exact case count numbers to share. The Panther did not immediately receive a response from the Student Health Center for the active case count in Pralle-Sodaro Hall before and after the increased testing was implemented.
The Panther is tracking the number of active cases the university reports. On Feb. 19, Chapman reported 22 active cases of the coronavirus. Graphic by HARRY LADA, Art Director
The CU Safely Back website reported 13 known cases of COVID-19 at Chapman Feb. 26: 2 students living on campus, 10 students living off campus and 1 staff member. The current Chapman testing positivity rate at the Student Health Center is 0.64%.
At nearby universities, the University of California, Irvine, reported Feb. 26 of 10 active positive cases of COVID-19. From Feb. 16 to Feb. 22, California State University, Fullerton, reported zero positive cases of COVID-19 on their campus.
Johnson and Johnson joined Pfizer and Moderna Feb. 27 as a producer of an approved Food and Drug Administration vaccine. The university announced Jan. 22 that it is working with the Orange County Health Care Agency to receive a vaccine supply to administer to its staff, faculty and students.