Covid cases surge at Pitt

The University of Pittsburgh on Friday recorded 42 new cases of covid-19 at its Oakland campus since Tuesday. There are now 71 students in isolation, according to the university’s online data dashboard.

Eight cases have been identified among faculty and staff. The students’ overall five-day moving average is now 8.6 cases per day, more than double the average earlier this week.

“42 new students testing positive for covid-19 in three days is worrisome,” a message from the university’s Covid-19 Medical Response Office reads. “Case numbers in Allegheny and Westmoreland Counties continue to rise. The increased number of faculty and staff testing positive for COVID-19 likely mirrors the continued rise in Allegheny County numbers.”

Pitt on Tuesday had announced one case of the B117 covid variant — which was first identified in the United Kingdom — on the campus. The variant’s presence creates further concern about increased transmission and a surge in cases, Friday’s message reads.

“Please wear a face covering, keep your distance from others, don’t gather in large numbers, avoid making new close contacts and maintain good hand hygiene—even outdoors and even if you have been vaccinated.”

As the spring semester nears its end, the campus will return to a shelter-in-place period April 16. Students will be permitted to attend in-person classes and leave the house for essentials, but most activities and public spaces on campus will be restricted. The Pittsburgh campus has been in “Guarded Risk Posture,” which has more relaxed restrictions for the past two weeks, after public health guidance appeared to ease and infection counts had declined.

Pitt’s Covid-19 Medical Response Office (CMRO) also cautioned students the university won’t likely be able to vaccinate students on a large scale before the semester ends, only a month away.

“The CMRO is therefore encouraging those students who will not be in the area over the summer to begin seeking out vaccination opportunities at home or wherever you may be spending your summer,” the message reads. “Some states have more availability; we highly encourage you to be vaccinated when you can.”