Just two Exeter students out of 6,000 tested positive for COVID in pre-Christmas tests
Just two Exeter students tested positive for Covid-19 out of more than 6,000 students tested before going home for Christmas.
These figures are vastly different from those in October, when the Pennsylvania and University area of Exeter was the seventh highest in terms of cases in the area. At its peak, there were 322 Covid-19 cases in a seven-day period, and now it is down to three. At least one of these cases has not been linked to the university.
The Team Devon Local Outbreak Engagement Board was told by Sean Fielding, Director of Innovation, Impact and Business, that since the start of term in September, more than 1,500 people had tested positive. He said, “These are significant numbers, but because we could isolate people quickly, we had around 6,000 people isolating at one stage.” By forbidding students mixing within households indoors for an additional month, the transmission into the wider community was kept relatively low.
From the rapid results provided by the lateral flow tests, Mr Fielding said that out of 6,200 tests, given to students before returning home for Christmas, only two came back positive across a two-week period.
However, in December, general testing showed zero positive results, and the rate of positive results in those experiencing symptoms was 1.4 per cent.
From the rapid results provided by the lateral flow tests, Mr Fielding said that out of 6,200 tests given to students before returning home for Christmas, only two came back positive across a two-week period.
Devon County Council’s chief executive Dr Phil Norrey added, “the work Exeter has done has been nationally leading and you can be proud of the work the University has done.”
Editor: Ella Shadwell