MUNCIE, Ind. — Ball State University’s overall coronavirus cases took another jump after officials warned that off-campus activity was spurring a steady rise …
MUNCIE, Ind. — Ball State University’s overall coronavirus cases took another jump after officials warned that off-campus activity was spurring a steady rise in transmission through the campus community. The Ball State University dashboard for COVID-19 showed 231 cases Friday afternoon, but by Monday morning was showing more than double that at 503 cases. The dashboard breaks down cases that were tested through a partnership with IU Health and those self-reported through other sources. According to the dashboard, the university has tested 319 students and 10 employees through its partnership with IU Health. Of those tested through IU Health,207 students and three faculty have been declared positive. The rest of the university-related positive cases were self-reported or through non-university testing. Ball State President Geoffrey Mearns issued a warning to the campus community on Friday, saying that the steady increase in positive cases was not linked to academic classrooms or spaces, or to the residence halls. When asked for clarification, university spokeswoman Kathy Wolf said that nearly all of the positive tests were students, with the vast majority who test positive not living in a residence hall. « Our team of medical experts have inferred from that data, as well as from the contact tracing reports from the students who have tested positive, that the transmission is occurring off campus, » Wolf said. RELATED: ►IU tested every student who arrived on campus for COVID-19. Fewer than 1% tested positive. ►Delaware County sees spike in coronavirus cases; BSU on-campus work might be at risk A rapid spread is a serious threat to campus functioning as it is currently.
