COVID-19 cases rise amidst administration debunking COVID-19 surge rumors

The COVID-19 Task Force released an email on Oct. 19, noting a surge in COVID-19 cases on campus and alerting the campus that the school has moved into an orange alert level.

“We have moved the University to the Orange Alert Level in Factor 1 (regional infection rates) and Factor 2 (percent of quarantine space filled) on the chart,” the email stated. 

The campus remains at a yellow alert for testing abilities, academic delivery mode, and ability to provide essential services according to the COVID-19 dashboard. 

Rumors alleging a COVID-19 outbreak on Elmhurst University campus surfaced following homecoming weekend. 

Phil Riordan, vice president of student affairs, put the rumors to rest during an email exchange with The Leader on Oct. 13, noting, “the one [rumor] about a mini outbreak is just not true.”

Additionally, Riordan assured that the school had not come close to filling their quarantine spaces.

“We have more than enough spaces on campus for students needing to quarantine or isolate. If we run out of spaces, we would need to consider sending everyone home,” said Riordan. “To date [Oct. 13], we have not even come close to our maximum number.”

Riordan also assured that the school would inform students, faculty, and staff if an outbreak occurred on campus.

“If we have an outbreak of any kind, we would notify the entire campus immediately,” said Riordan on Oct. 13.

Students are able to test off campus for COVID-19 and if they test positive, the students, faculty, and staff must report the test results. The results are then added to the “cases reported since March” section of the school website. 

According to the Oct. 19 email, “27 students [are] quarantining on campus and/or at a local hotel, and 18 students are quarantining at their homes. Additionally, two students are in isolation on campus, and five students are in isolation at their home or off-campus apartment/house.”

11 people are currently in recovery from COVID-19 as of Oct. 19, according to the Elmhurst University COVID-19 dashboard. 

The dashboard reports that 327 tests have been administered as of Oct. 19.