Fifty-five positive COVID-19 cases were reported by St. Thomas’ Center for Well-Being during the week ending May 6, the highest of the spring semester.
Forty-five cases came from the St. Paul campus and 10 came from the Minneapolis campus; 40 were students and 15 were employees. COVID-19 infection numbers on St. Thomas’ Twin Cities campuses have been rising since early April and have more than doubled since the start of the month (12 total reported April 2-8).
The Center for Well-Being states that the number of positive cases reported to the university have remained “on par with increases across the Twin Cities” and that there is no evidence of classroom transmission.The University Action Response Team and the Center for Well-Being also asks the St. Thomas community “to do their part to keep our community safe as we head into finals, commencement and other year-end celebrations.”
The number of positive cases reported in Minnesota has increased by 83% from the average two weeks ago, according to The New York Times’ case count, which is based on data from state and local health agencies, on May 9.
Beyond the university’s vaccine requirement, St. Thomas encourages the community to get boosted. Anyone exposed to COVID-19 who is not boosted is required to quarantine according to Centers for Disease Control health guidelines.
On April 21, St. Thomas’ University Action and Response Team announced the continued requirement of face coverings in classrooms, labs, the St. Thomas shuttle and the Center for Well-Being for the remainder of the semester.
Those who still need or choose to wear a mask may continue to do so. The university asks that the community respect those who choose to wear masks and recommends that everyone keep a mask on-hand.
As of May 9, the Center for Well-Being reported a 92.5% university-wide vaccination rate with a 95.8% rate among employees and a 91.6% rate among students. The university-wide vaccination rate has risen .8% since vaccination data for the spring semester was first published on Feb. 4.
The Minnesota Department of Health reported on May 8 that 66.6% of Minnesotans have completed the vaccine series, and 45.9% are up to date with their vaccine.
St. Thomas releases COVID-19 data every Monday on the COVID-19 dashboard, which also offers protocol updates and information about reporting positive cases and getting vaccinated.
Cam Kauffman can be reached at kauf8536@stthomas.edu.