Keene State College COVID cases are tracking “much lower now” following a sharp spike.
From Feb. 7 to Feb. 11, Keene State reported 52 new cases compared to the previous week’s 180 new cases, said COVID-19 Project Manager Colin Burdick.
“We’re on pace for the numbers to go down,” Burdick said.
Since classes began for Owls this semester on Jan 18., case counts have been on a continuous rise, according to the college’s COVID-19 dashboard. By Jan. 23 there were 50 cases, which rose to 77 the following week. That number would more than double by Feb 6. when the college reported 148 positive cases. The positivity rate for the college was 5.15% that week.
Burdick said the cases are usually high during the first few weeks of the semester before they wind down.
“I would have said last week was the peak, but I wouldn’t be surprised if this coming week we see a little more,” Burdick said. “I’m cautiously optimistic that we are at that downward trend.”
Burdick noted that one of the reasons he remains vigilant is because of the Super Bowl, “a historically social event.” Burdick added further that with many students and faculty likely to watch the event with others without wearing masks, it’s likely it could result in more infection.
However, Burdick expects that case rate will slow down as the school approaches spring break, and the weather starts to warm.
The school is also in talks with the state on switching to testing symptomatic individuals as opposed to weekly surveillance testing after Spring Break. Burdick added that because so many individuals have gotten COVID-19 this semester, they are exempt from testing for 90 days, and testing numbers keep getting lower. The school has not made any decision yet to switch to symptomatic testing.
Despite the high number of COVID-19 cases in recent weeks, many students and staff who were close contacts with infected individuals might not have had to quarantine if they were fully vaccinated, meaning they had two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, or one dose of Johnson & Johnson. However, effective Feb. 14, The college is updating its definition of up-to-date vaccination to align with the CDC and New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, according to an email sent to students and staff. This means eligible students and staff must have received a COVID-19 booster and upload their vaccine records with the school in order to be considered up-to-date on vaccination.
The email also stated that anyone five months beyond their second Moderna or Pfizer dose, or two months beyond their last dose of J&J, will need a booster dose to be considered up to date.
Public Health Professor Dr. Jeanelle Boyer clarified that non-symptomatic individuals who are up-to-date on vaccination will not have to quarantine if they are a close contact with someone who tests positive for COVID-19.
Burdick added that because less people have been administered the booster, this will likely result in an increase in the number of quarantined individuals. He added further that the COVID-19 team has already received emails from people displeased with this development.
“Big changes like that elicit a big response,” Burdick said. “People are not happy that we’re changing the definition [of up-to-date vaccination] but we’re just following the CDC and we aren’t mandating anything.”
Those who are placed in quarantine can attempt to test out on day six if they don’t show any symptoms. If the test comes back negative then they are placed out of quarantine, however they must wear a mask around others until day 10.
Students and staff can upload their vaccination records on the Keene State website.
https://www.keene.edu/featured/returning-to-campus-spring-2022/.
Hunter Oberst can be contacted at
hoberst@kscequinox.com
