NIU reports one new COVID-19 case, six recoveries on Wednesday

DeKALB – Northern Illinois University announced one new case of COVID-19 and six new recoveries as of Wednesday.

The new case was listed as a student, according to university data. The six reported recoveries were five students and one employee.

There now have been 589 total positive tests on campus, 61 of which were in employees. There remain 41 active cases on campus, including nine in employees and 32 in students.

To date, 548 cases have fully recovered, including 496 recovered students and 52 recovered employees.

In surveillance testing results released Monday, nine students tested positive among 699 tests conducted last week, a 1.3% positive rate. For the week of Nov. 16, the previous full week of surveillance testing, there were eight positives in 739 tests, a rate of 1.1%.

The school's quarantine and isolation use remains at 3.7% from Tuesday to Wednesday.

The university first welcomed students back to campus Aug. 19, and classes began Aug. 24. Students living on campus were required to submit proof of a negative COVID-19 test before moving in.

Post-Thanksgiving break, NIU classes that weren't already being offered online were transitioned to remote as able, although some courses could remain in person, with the campus and residential halls still open for students. No decision has yet been made on any spring graduations for the Class of 2021.

According to the school, a 14-day quarantine begins after individuals first show signs of COVID-19 symptoms, not when they receive a positive test for the virus. A case is considered recovered after the 14-day period is over.

Although specific surveillance testing results are reported weekly on Mondays, positive tests found through the program are included in daily statistics.

Daily COVID-19 case data from the DeKalb County Health Department may not reflect daily data from NIU because some students or employees may live outside the county and still test positive for the virus.