UGA cases of COVID-19 climb while interest in surveillance testing wanes
9 hours ago
After three consecutive weeks of consistently low reports, cases of COVID-19 at the University of Georgia have climbed back to the level recorded at the first of March: 53 cases versus 33 the previous week.
Of those who reported positive tests through the DawgCheck system, 47 were students, five were staff members and one was a faculty member.
Surveillance tests were administered to 846 individuals at the Legion Field surveillance site and in a satellite location the lowest number of participants since UGA initiated its testing program last August. Of those tested, nine yielded positive results for a positivity rate of 1.42 percent, breaking a record of six straight weeks with a positivity rate below 1 percent.
Reports of COVID-19 at UGA plummet
5 days ago
Reports of positive cases of COVID-19 at the University of Georgia dropped 30 percent over the previous week, with a total of 33 individuals reporting positive tests for March 8-14. The number sets a new record for the lowest amount recorded since UGA began surveillance testing in August.
Of those who reported positive tests through the DawgCheck system, 26 were students and seven were staff members. No cases were reported among the faculty.
Surveillance tests were administered to 1,565 individuals at the Legion Field surveillance site and in a satellite location. Of those tested, 13 yielded positive results for a positivity rate that remained below 1 percent at .83 percent.
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Scientists and researchers from the University of Georgia’s Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratories recently adapted a COVID-19 saliva-based test.
“Everybody has worked together like they never have before, sharing information, sharing data and sequences, which has allowed us to start really with diagnostic tests to know what the virus was,” said Susan Sanchez, a professor of infectious diseases at the University of Georgia.
Sanchez, section head of microbiology and molecular biology in UGA’s College of Veterinary Medicine Diagnostic Laboratory, and Jesse Hostetter, the Barry G. Harmon Professor of Pathology in the College of Veterinary Medicine and the executive director of the Tifton and Athens Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratories, were guests on Friday’s edition of “Closer Look.”