Update: Student COVID-19 testing results show 99.26% negative rate

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — With students set to begin classes in one week, Purdue University reports that 99.26 percent of students who have received results of their COVID-19 tests are virus-free. Of the 25,638 results received as of Sunday (Aug. 16), 190 tested positive for COVID-19, for a 0.74 percent positive rate. 

As part of the Protect Purdue Plan, all Purdue students are required to have a negative COVID-19 test before arrival on campus for the fall semester, or if recently tested positive, have documentation from the Protect Purdue Health Center that they have completed a 10-day isolation after the test (asymptomatic) or 10 days after symptom onset before arriving on campus.

First-year students began arriving Friday (Aug. 14) for Boiler Gold Rush orientation programs. Additional students will arrive throughout the coming week in order to begin classes on Aug. 24.

Purdue will update pre-arrival test results again on Wednesday (Aug. 19). A dashboard of the current campus status is being developed and soon will be posted publicly on the Protect Purdue website.

Students who test positive receive guidance from the Protect Purdue Health Center, which operates 24/7 with nurse case managers assigned to answer calls and work with students, faculty and staff. These students are instructed not to travel to West Lafayette or come to campus for any reason until they have self-isolated for 10 days and are medically cleared by PPHC.