Campus Testing and Reporting

Last updated: March 2, 2021

Learn About COVID-19 Status Levels

To ensure that our Stags remain safe and healthy throughout the spring semester, Fairfield developed and enacted a comprehensive three-step testing protocol required for all faculty, staff, and students who are returning to campus for the spring semester.

From comprehensive testing of all students, faculty, and staff prior to arrival on campus, to daily health monitoring and required weekly testing for those on campus, Fairfield’s Six Layers of Protection has provided a well-rounded framework for our community to continue to thrive. The plan also includes expert contact tracing and isolation of positive cases, and required face coverings and social distancing, ensuring best practices in keeping our campus safe.

The health and safety of our students, faculty, staff, and community is our priority as we continue operations during the Covid-19 pandemic. To date, Fairfield University’s campus reopening plan has been largely successful as we have worked with State of Connecticut and Town of Fairfield Health Department officials to create and execute an effective plan to identify, contain, and limit the extent of Covid-19 infections. A critical component of our approach has been continual random and targeted testing of our student population — both on campus and off — to find and isolate Covid-19 cases in order to protect not only our students, but our town of Fairfield neighbors. These extensive testing protocols will be ongoing as the spring semester takes place.

With a total of five rapid testing machines in partnership with Abbott Laboratories, along with daily health monitoring, contact tracing, isolation, and quarantine procedures, Fairfield University has exceeded state and local guidelines with proactive measures to keep our community at large safe and healthy. The University will continue to work with state and local officials on Covid-19 protocols as the semester unfolds, and all updates will be available on fairfield.edu/reopen.

Daily Test Results - 3/1/2021
	Faculty and Staff		Students		Total
	Total Tests	Positive	Total Tests	Positive	Total Tests	Positive
Surveillance Testing	0	0	0	0	0	0
Diagnostic	4	0	11	0	15	0
External	0	0	19	2	19	2
TOTAL	4	0	30	2	34	2

*Surveillance testing excludes (0) "Inconclusive" tests that will be retested

Daily Active Positive and Clear Status - 3/1/2021
	Active Positive Cases	Active Positive Cases on Campus	Cumulative Cleared	Cleared Today
Faculty and Staff	2	0	2	2
Students	11	3	5	0
Residual Repop	1	0	13	0
TOTAL	14	3	20	2

*Residual Repop includes those that tested positive during the repopulation process and have not yet cleared

Cumulative Results - Since 2/14/2021
	Faculty and Staff		Students		Total
	Total Tests	Positive	Total Tests	Positive	Total Tests	Positive
Surveillance Testing	1,721	4	7,290	6	9,011	10
Diagnostic	38	0	167	3	205	3
External	75	0	263	7	338	7
TOTAL	1,834	4	7,720	16	9,554	20

Daily Under Surveillance & Isolation and Inventory & Usage - 3/1/2021
	Occupied Rooms
	Under Surveillance (Repop & Surveillance)	Isolation (Repop & Surveillance)	Total Available	Total Occupied
Campus	0	3	125	3
Hotel	9	0	38	9
Home/Other	8	11	-	-
TOTAL	17	14	163	12

*Maximum available inventory: 175; Campus = 128; Hotel = 47

Dashboard Notes
The attached dashboard excludes repopulation testing; repopulation testing ended on 2/13/21. The data may be adjusted as final results are completed.

• Repopulation Testing: The process began on January 21, 2021 and concluded on February 13, 2021 with nearly 13,000 tests conducted via a combination of at-home test kits supplied by Fairfield University prior to arrival to campus and follow-up on-campus tests. Overall infection rate of less than 1%.
• Covid-19 Spring Tracking Dashboard: Fairfield’s Spring Tracking Dashboard will be released daily Monday through Friday; data will be frozen at midnight the day prior to each release.
• Surveillance Tests: Includes 100% of the campus community per week for those who are learning or working on campus.
• Diagnostic Tests: Includes all tests conducted on those reporting symptoms consistent with potential Covid-19 infection, and on those who have been contact traced/exposed to someone who is Covid-19 positive. Diagnostic testing is performed by Fairfield University’s Student Health Center.
• External: Includes external tests not performed on or by Fairfield University campus.
• Active Positive Cases: Includes all individuals that have tested positive and have not yet been “cleared” or recovered from Covid-19.
• Active Positive Cases on Campus: Includes individuals that have tested positive and have not yet been “cleared” or recovered from Covid-19 that have remained in campus isolation housing.  Note: other positive cases may be isolating at home/away from campus.
• Cleared: Includes individuals who have recovered from Covid-19 who are deemed no longer contagious by medical professionals and are cleared to return to the campus community.
• Exempt: Students and employees that tested positive for Covid-19 in the past 90 days are exempt from testing; exempt status is maintained by the Student Health Center.
• Isolated on Campus:  Includes individuals positive for Covid-19 who are isolating in the on-campus Isolation Center; Fairfield University has an isolation bed capacity of 128.  Note: other positive cases may be isolating at home/away from campus.
• Under Surveillance By University: Includes individuals who have been identified through contact tracing or who have voluntarily reported they are quarantining due to possible exposure or travel. Fairfield University has a total bed capacity of 175.
  
  

Fall 2020 Test Results