• Home
  • Campus
    • Academics
    • Greek Life
    • SGA
    • Student Life
  • State/Local
    • Around Town
    • Board of Regents
    • National
    • Pierre
    • Vermillion City Council
    • Vermillion Police Department
  • Sports
    • Cross Country
    • Football
    • Golf
    • Men’s Basketball
    • Soccer
    • Swimming/Diving
    • Track and Field
    • Volleyball
    • Women’s Basketball
  • Verve
    • Feature
    • Diversity
    • Events
    • CAB
    • The Vault
  • Opinion
  • E-Edition
  • COVID-19
The Volante
  • Campus
  • Sports
  • Verve
  • Opinion
  • State/Local
The Volante
  • Home
  • Campus
    • Academics
    • Greek Life
    • SGA
    • Student Life
  • State/Local
    • Around Town
    • Board of Regents
    • National
    • Pierre
    • Vermillion City Council
    • Vermillion Police Department
  • Sports
    • Cross Country
    • Football
    • Golf
    • Men’s Basketball
    • Soccer
    • Swimming/Diving
    • Track and Field
    • Volleyball
    • Women’s Basketball
  • Verve
    • Feature
    • Diversity
    • Events
    • CAB
    • The Vault
  • Opinion
  • E-Edition
  • COVID-19
  • Follow
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
Cases stay low, on-campus COVID-19 testing remains availableCampus
Home
Special
COVID-19

Cases stay low, on-campus COVID-19 testing remains available

October 19th, 2021 Bailey Zubke Campus, Campus Brief, COVID-19 comments

Share this story

Facebook Twitter Google+ LinkedIn Pinterest

There are currently six active cases of COVID-19 at USD as of Oct. 19, but COVID-19 testing is still available daily as the virus remains on campus.

USD had a peak of 25 cases in early September, but hasn’t seen the case total climb above 15 since Sept. 8. There are currently nine individuals in quarantine or isolation, with none on campus. All the cases and quarantines are self-reported.

“We’re testing probably 50 or so people a day who are getting voluntarily tested,” head of the USD COVID-19 Taskforce Kevin O’Kelley said. “We’re finding one or two of those a day are positive.”

While numbers remain lower than campus cases in 2020, USD still sits higher than its counterpart South Dakota State, which has one self-reported case of COVID-19 and six in quarantine, according to the school’s dashboard. 

In Clay County, there are 55 active cases of COVID-19, with one new case added Oct. 19 according to the South Dakota Department of Health website. The county also added 12 probable cases. South Dakota as a whole has 5,679 cases, with 562 cases added Oct. 19.

O’Kelley said that the Taskforce had made projections for 60, 65 and 70% immunity, and the campus levels have exceeded expectations.

“There are certain variables that we didn’t know,” O’Kelley said. “We didn’t know how many people are vaccinated and how many have been sick. But we did know some things. We know the Delta Variant is about twice as infectious as the previous variants, and we know exactly how many (reported) were sick last semester.”

O’Kelley said they used the information to model predictions based on different levels of immunity, and the USD community has exceeded expectations, with lower numbers than anticipated.

South Dakota is also seeing the population slowly receive more vaccinations. As of Oct 19, 66% of the state’s population has one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. In Clay County, 7,397 people have received at least one dose, with 5,808 people having two doses and 291 having a booster or third dose. The university doesn’t track the number of vaccinated students on campus. 

USD is offering free rapid COVID-19 testing in the Hoy Room, located next to the cafeteria in the Muenster University Center. Testing is offered from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Monday through Friday. Vaccines are available at Hy-Vee, Walmart and Sanford Health. 

“It’s a constant reminder, COVID is still here,” O’Kelley said. “We’re tired of it, I’m sick and tired of it. I want to go to the movies again. I’m glad we’re able to talk without masks. I like to see people’s faces; I’m so tired of telling students they have to go to quarantine for 10 days, and I do, twice, sometimes three times a day.”

O’Kelley said that he urges students to get vaccinated and follow Gov. Kristi Noem’s message to consider getting vaccinated.

“We’re pounding that drum,” O’Kelley said. “The governor urges us to consider getting vaccinated, and I echo her comments. I am going to continue to urge students and faculty to get vaccinated.”

Post Views: 16
  • Tags
  • COVID-19
  • Kevin O'Kelley
  • Muenster University Center
  • testing
  • USd

Share this story

Facebook Twitter Google+ LinkedIn Pinterest

Bailey Zubke

Bailey is a Sport Marketing & Media major at USD. He is the Photo Editor of the Volante.

Related Posts

SGA Runs Unopposed in Leadership Election Campus
March 7th, 2023

SGA Runs Unopposed in Leadership Election

Coyote Classic Climbing Competition to Return this Year Campus
March 7th, 2023

Coyote Classic Climbing Competition to Return this Year

Award Winning Professor Back in Fine Arts Department Campus
March 7th, 2023

Award Winning Professor Back in Fine Arts Department

Facebook Comments

E-Edition

https://volanteonline.com/eedition/

For our online E-edition click here

Weather

October 2021
MTWTFSS
 123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031
« Sep   Nov »
Read about: Best Detox Shampoos for Hair Drug Test and Synthetic Urine and Fake Pee manual
  • Coyote News
  • KAOR 91.1
  • Media & Journalism Department
  • Back to top

Stay Connected

  • Letters to the Editor
  • Submit an Overheard
  • Contact Us
  • Submit News Tips
  • Subscribe

About

  • Coyote News
  • KAOR 91.1
  • Media & Journalism Department
© The Volante 2015. All rights reserved.