Positivity rates for student COVID-19 tests at UCF’s testing site were about 40.1% after UCF’s home football game, and about 11.5% after students in Greek life were randomly targeted for testing, according to positivity rate data obtained by Knight News.
In this week’s update, the positivity rate for student tests administered at the on-campus testing site was about 24.3% — compared to the 40.1% positivity rate last week.
The positivity rate only accounts for student tests administered by UCF’s on-campus testing site and not any other results submitted to the university. Knight News has obtained data for the positivity rates for the last four weeks, and included the information below.
Oct. 11 to Saturday:
- Positivity rate approximately 24.3%.
- 333 tests administered.
- 81 tests positive for COVID-19.
- On-campus residents in dorms randomly selected.
Oct. 4 to Oct. 10:
- Positivity rate approximately 40.1%.
- 379 tests administered.
- 152 tests positive for COVID-19.
- No random testing occurred.
Sept. 27 to Oct. 3:
- Positivity rate approximately 14.7%.
- 204 tests administered.
- 30 tests positive for COVID-19.
- No random testing occurred.
Sept. 20 to Sept. 26:
- Positivity rate approximately 11.5%.
- 358 tests administered.
- 41 tests positive for COVID-19.
- Students who reside in on-campus Greek housing were randomly selected.
Knight News has not obtained records to independently verify this data, but confirmed this information with UCF spokesman Chad Binette.
This week, UCF’s weekly COVID-19 dashboard update shows 116 new positive COVID-19 cases, with 81 of the positive tests being reported by UCF’s on-campus testing site in its most recent update.
Students self-reported 33 positive tests and two faculty or staff members self-reported positive tests between Oct. 11 and Saturday, the dashboard shows. The group selected for random COVID-19 testing this week included students who reside in on-campus dorms, Binette said.
Binette confirmed random testing did not take place during the last two weeks — between Sept. 27 and Oct. 10. Random testing first began with individuals who reside in on-campus Greek housing were the first to be selected on Sept. 21.
From the start of the pandemic through Saturday, the university has been made aware of 1,544 total cases, both on and off campus. Knight News previously confirmed with UCF the first reported case was on March 10.
Timeline of UCF’s COVID-19 Communication & Response:
[Note: This timeline begins Sept. 14 to ensure brevity and relevancy to the specific topic — please note, this does not define the start of UCF’s communication and response ]
Sept. 14:
Maribeth Ehasz, vice president for Student Development and Enrollment Services, updated the UCF community about a “new challenge” in a Sept. 14 statement — she informed the community that bars and nightclubs would be reopening.
Sept. 15:
A day later, Dr. Michael Deichen, associate vice president of UCF Student Health Services, updated the community about random COVID-19 testing.
Deichen, who initially announced his plans Sept. 4, said individuals in social Greek organizations are at a higher risk of contracting the virus at universities throughout the country, and Greek organizations will be the first targeted group selected for random COVID-19 testing.
Sept. 20 — Sept. 26
Knight News learned on Sept. 22 that UCF’s random COVID-19 testing would begin with a targeted group of on-campus Greek residents.
On Sept. 25, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced bars could reopen at full capacity as part of Phase 3 of Re-Open Florida.
On Sept. 28, UCF’s weekly dashboard update showed 94 new positive COVID-19 cases, with 41 of the positive tests being reported by UCF’s on-campus testing site. The 41 positive tests include the results from the approximately 100 students who participated in the random COVID-19 testing, which UCF began Sept. 21.
Binette said in a Tuesday email that between Sept. 20 and Sept. 26, UCF’s on-campus testing site administered 358 COVID-19 tests and 41 were positive for COVID-19 — a positivity rate of about 11.5%.
Additionally, students self-reported 51 positive tests and two faculty or staff members self-reported positive tests between Sept. 20 and Sept. 26.
Sept. 27 — Oct. 3
UCF’s weekly dashboard update showed 95 new positive COVID-19 cases, with 30 of the positive tests being reported by UCF’s on-campus testing site the week of Sept. 27 to Oct. 3.
Binette told Knight News that no random testing occurred during this week, and 204 tests were administered — a positivity rate of about 14.7%.
Additionally, students self-reported 57 positive tests and eight faculty or staff members self-reported positive tests between Sept. 27 and Oct. 3.
UCF’s first home football game — which was approved for 25% occupancy, or about 11,000 spectators, but had just under 8,900 in attendance — against the Tulsa Golden Hurricane was on Oct. 3 at the Bounce House.
Oct. 4 — Oct. 10
Between Oct. 4 and Oct. 10, UCF’s weekly update showed 218 new positive COVID-19 cases, with 152 of the positive tests being reported by UCF’s on-campus testing site. This is the highest recorded case count in a weekly update since UCF began recording data.
Binette said 379 tests were administered — with 152 positive cases — and the positivity rate was about 40.1%.
Following the home opener, UCF’s COVID-19 numbers marked the highest recorded case count in a weekly update since the university began keeping track of cases.
Binette said the university has not identified any spread of COVID-19 resulting from fans attending the home football game at the Bounce House.
Knight News requested public records to provide clarity on this — and insight on UCF’s contact tracing — but the university has not yet provided any records.
Additionally, students self-reported 61 positive tests and five faculty or staff members self-reported positive tests between Oct. 4 and Oct. 10.
Ehasz in an Oct. 13 statement that the UCF community must remain vigilant in all precautions and implied the spike in cases was related to social activities.
“Unfortunately, the majority of the cases involve students, and contact tracing tells us that many of these cases generated from activity at bars, restaurants and small social gatherings,” Ehasz said.
In the statement, Ehasz said when bars and restaurants reopened in September, UCF reminded its community to follow safety precautions.
“We do not want to restrict our campus experience, including campus activities, football games and more,” Ehasz said.
It is not known why an extreme spike in positivity rate would be documented around the same time as UCF football’s first home game — when bars have been open since Sept. 14 — but Knight News has requested records hoping to provide insight.
Knight News asked if UCF has reason to believe the first home football game played a factor in individuals in the UCF community frequenting bars and participating in social activities since attendance was limited. UCF did not provide a direct response.
Knight News requested UCF’s contact tracing records to seek clarity on its tracing methods and findings — UCF has not yet produced any records to support that cases can be traced to bars, or deny that claims can be traced to stadiums.
Oct. 13 — Monday
Florida’s COVID-19 Data and Surveillance Dashboard shows an increase in positive COVID-19 cases in UCF’s zip code of 32816.
The dashboard states the positive COVID-19 cases are individuals that self-reported as being residents of Alafaya, Orlando, University Of Central FL, University Of Central Florida.
On Oct. 13, the health department’s dashboard showed 275 COVID-19 cases for UCF’s ZIP code. In a sea of red — or having over 300 cases in the population — UCF was an island of blue, having between 200-299 reported cases of COVID-19.
Just days later, UCF joined its neighboring ZIP codes and transitioned to red on the surveillance map — the health department’s dashboard showed 331 cases for UCF’s ZIP code on Friday.
On Sunday, the health department’s dashboard showed 342 cases for UCF’s ZIP code.
Within 24 hours, 47 new cases of COVID-19 — totaling 389 cases — were reflected on the health department’s dashboard for UCF’s ZIP code on Monday.
On Tuesday, the health department’s dashboard showed 399 cases for UCF’s ZIP code.
This is a developing story and may be updated with new information. Check back with Knight News for updates.
