Dear Pitt Community,

As of Thursday, April 8, the Pitt COVID-19 dashboard reflects the following:

The scope of our dashboard and these updates is limited to people who have been on a Pitt campus within the last 14 days.

Cases are continuing to hold steady across all campuses. Regional campus case numbers are low, but the 5-day moving average remains elevated at the Pittsburgh campus. For the second week in a row, the Pittsburgh campus has a record 28 new cases of COVID-19 in a single day. We are seeing cases in both on- and off-campus students and infections in residence halls are more widespread than we saw in the fall.  In addition, Allegheny County has been reporting high case counts for the past few weeks.  We are expanding testing opportunities on campus but to reduce transmission within the student population we need everyone to maintain strict adherence to the mitigation measures: Wear a face covering at all times, keep your distance, don’t gather in groups and wash your hands.

1. If you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, believe you have had close contact with someone that has been diagnosed with COVID-19 or test positive for COVID-19, you are required to call Student Health Service for an evaluation. If you do not go to an SHS clinic for testing, you must still notify SHS so that they can coordinate your medical needs and perform contact tracing. Our ability to control the virus on our campus depends in part on your self-reporting.

• Pitt-Bradford: 814-362-5272
• Pitt-Greensburg: 724-836-9947
• Pitt-Johnstown: 814-269-7110
• Pittsburgh campus: 412-383-1800

2. If you are invited for testing, please come. You are permitted to leave your residence for a COVID-19 test during the shelter-in-place period. If you follow all safety guidance at the testing site, including wearing a mask and keeping distance between you and others at the site, there is no significant risk of exposure. We have conducted more than 12,000 randomized surveillance tests since Aug. 1, 2020, and there hasn’t been a single case of transmission identified at our testing site.

3. While our local and state governments may have different restrictions, Pitt people are expected to follow Pitt standards and guidelines which are often more conservative for the safety of the community as a whole. 

We are offering expanded testing to control the current surge, not to give false reassurance. Testing negative is not an all-clear. It is vital that you show up for testing when invited. The Posvar testing site is open Saturday from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Check PittSwab Scheduler for a timeslot.

The Posvar testing site is open six days next week. Check PittSwab Scheduler for a timeslot. As a second step, you will need to register through Quest to order a kit. You may register in advance through this URL, or onsite at Posvar using a QR code.

Monday: 8 a.m. – noon
Tuesday: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Wednesday: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Thursday: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Friday: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Just as in the fall, students will have the option to order a self-swab testing kit through Quest in preparation for traveling at the end of the term. Details on how to order your test will be provided next week.

As a reminder, we are no longer conducting surveillance testing on the Pittsburgh campus and accordingly will not be updating the surveillance graph after March 31, 2021. 

Pitt received a very limited quantity of Johnson & Johnson’s single-dose COVID-19 vaccine from the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the Federal Pharmacy Program this week. These vaccines have been administered.  As we receive additional vaccine allocation, we will send randomized invitations to those who are eligible.

For those who got a first dose through an Allegheny County Health Department clinic at the Petersen Events Center, second dose clinics have been scheduled for April 14, 15, 19, 20, 22, 23 and 26. No first doses will be administered at these clinics.

If you still need your vaccine, consider these options:

ACHD First Dose Clinics (Offering Pfizer and Moderna)
Pennsylvania Phase 1B
Register online or call 2-1-1.
Locations: Castle Shannon, Hill District (City of Pittsburgh), McKeesport and Ross

AHN Johnson & Johnson Clinics (April 10 ONLY)
Everyone 18+
Walk-ins accepted or register online or by calling 412-DOCTORS
Location: NextTier Connect, 4350 Northern Pike, Monroeville

UPMC Johnson & Johnson Drive-Up Clinics (April 14 and 15 ONLY)
Pennsylvania Phase 1B
Register online or call 833-676-1995.
Location: Galleria at Pittsburgh Mills, Tarentum

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

Sincerely,

COVID-19 Medical Response Office