University of Pittsburgh COVID-19 Dashboard Update

As of Monday, April 19, the Pitt COVID-19 dashboard reflects the following:

 

Pittsburgh Campus


SINCE OUR LAST UPDATE ON FRIDAY, APRIL 16:

» 12 students have tested positive.

» 37 students are in isolation.

» The 5-day moving average of positive cases per day went from 8.0 to 4.0.

» 1 new faculty or staff cases have been reported.

Regional Campuses


SINCE OUR LAST UPDATE ON FRIDAY, APRIL 16:

» 2 students have tested positive at Pitt-Bradford.

» No students have tested positive at Pitt-Greensburg.

» 1 student has tested positive at Pitt-Johnstown.

» No new faculty or staff cases have been reported.

Operational Postures


All University of Pittsburgh campuses are sheltering in place.

Unpacking the data

Cases on the regional campuses remain low and stable. We will be conducting close contact testing tomorrow at Pitt-Bradford following reports of large gatherings. Case counts on the Pittsburgh campus also appear to be low, though testing volume is also down. Allegheny County continues to report high case numbers.

The shelter in place seems to be working, but we need to remain vigilant. Please continue to wear a face covering at all times, keep your distance, don’t gather in groups and maintain hand hygiene. Please come for testing if invited.

 

Are there any first dose vaccine clinics happening at Pitt before the end of term?

Yes! Pitt is hosting a Moderna vaccine clinic on Wednesday, April 21, at the Petersen Events Center from noon – 6 p.m. This clinic is serving all Pitt students and employees ages 18 and older. There will be a second dose vaccine clinic here for anyone who can or wants to return in approximately 4 weeks’ time. But even if you will not be here for your second dose, our advice is to get your first dose now. 

The PA Department of Health encourages university students to get vaccinated before traveling home—even if you won’t be able to return to the same location for your second dose. Many clinics are offering second doses no matter where you received your first dose, and we expect these offerings to expand in the coming weeks. Be sure to have your CDC card available when you look to schedule your second dose. It will be needed in order to schedule and verify the appropriate vaccine and timeframe to receive your dose.

Go to https://pi.tt/vras and use code H2Pvax21 to register for a first dose on the Pittsburgh campus tomorrow.

This code expires at 11:59 p.m. today, Tuesday, April 20. You may also call the Pitt COVID-19 hotline for assistance with registering at 412-383-4372. Please register as soon as possible. Appointments are limited. If there are no more available appointments by the time you register, you will receive an automatic email as soon as slots become available at the next scheduled first dose clinic. 

There is still a need for 10-15 people to volunteer in both clinical and nonclinical roles at vaccine clinics at the Petersen Events Center this week. Especially if you’ve already been vaccinated, see how you can help others get theirs.

 

How do vaccinations fit in to end-of-term plans?

Mitigation remains the gold standard for behavior. If you travel sooner than 2 weeks after your second shot of a two-dose series or your single dose of Johnson & Johnson, you may have some extra protection against severe disease, but you still need to follow mitigation measures, including the CDC-recommended post-travel quarantine. All fully vaccinated people still need to follow mitigation measures while traveling.

 

What if you’re afraid of needles?

One University of Michigan analysis suggested that 20% to 30% of adults have some degree of hesitancy about needles. There are  strategies to ease your nerves.

 

End-of-term testing for seniors and all students

If you are symptomatic, please contact Student Health Service to schedule a test. 

If you are not experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, you may schedule a test at the Posvar site by setting up a Quest account and scheduling through PittSwab. Testing is available Monday through Friday this week and next. You may also order a test through Quest to be taken at home.

Stay well and stay safe. Thank you for your partnership and patience.


Sincerely,

COVID-19 Medical Response Office