SPRINGFIELD, Mo., August 21, 2020 — On Wednesday, August 19, Drury’s NCAA athletes were tested for COVID-19 as required by NCAA guidelines. Of the 193 test results returned, six were positive for an active case of the virus. All of these students reported mild symptoms or are asymptomatic.
At this point, these are the only known active cases on the campus. The university is awaiting the remaining results of the approximately 400 total tests administered. Drury is tracking positive and recovered cases on its campus via a dashboard on the Panther Plan webpage.
Those who tested positive were immediately instructed to self-isolate for 10 days from the date of their test and be fever-free for at least 24 hours without the aid of fever-reducing medication before they return to on-campus activities.
Anyone at risk of COVID-19 exposure due to contact with one of these individuals has been notified of their next steps by contact tracers.
Community testing
Additional studies were released this week supporting the efficacy of ongoing community testing. Because of this new evidence, and in light of our asymptomatic testing results, Drury will begin community testing next Wednesday, August 26. This decision was made in consultation with Board of Trustees member and CoxHealth CEO Steve Edwards.
About 20 percent of Drury’s community population – some 350 students, faculty and staff – will be randomly selected for testing each week. These tests will be administered on campus and will be conducted via a throat swab PCR test. The tests will be covered by insurance. In the absence of insurance, CARES Act funds will cover the cost of the test.
Drury is actively working with community partners to gain access to the SalivaDirect tests that have recently been approved by the FDA. Due to their efficacy and quick turnaround on results, Drury’s community testing plan may be amended once this testing method is available to us.
“While none of us want to see COVID-19 cases on campus, this was not unexpected,” says David Hinson, chief operating officer and chief of staff. “This is why we all wear masks, practice social distancing, wash our hands and keep our spaces sanitized. These precautions are designed assuming there is virus present and to minimize its spread among our population.”
More information: drury.edu/panther-plan.
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