Mount Oread Messenger: September 14, 2020

An interview with KDHE Secretary Dr. Lee Norman Email not displaying correctly? [View the web version]( [Mount Oread Messenger]( Good morning! Yesterday was one of KU's two weekly data release days for the latest numbers on COVID-19 (the other is on Friday) so that's where we'll focus today's newsletter. KU on Tuesday reported that it has now confirmed 841 cases of the respiratory virus, an increase of 42 from its last data release on Friday. The university also reported that from September 7 to September 13, the most recent full week where data is available, the 779 tests conducted came back positive at a rate of 10.9% — the highest rate since KU began releasing testing data. An important caveat: This uptick in the university's positive test rate is likely due at least in part to a shift in testing strategy. KU tested every single community member when they got back to campus for the fall, which naturally will prompt lower positive test rates. Now, the university shifted its testing strategy to test a smaller number of people — mostly made up of those showing symptoms and those who have been in close contact with a confirmed positive case. That will also naturally prompt higher positive test rates since those showing symptoms are obviously more likely to have the virus. *** Also of note: As today's main story details, KU is releasing data from tests given to symptomatic people at Watkins Health Center, the on-campus health care provider. But is potentially under-calculating the percent positive rate of those tests because it isn't accounting for the lag time to get results back. KU says it's currently taking 3 to 7 days to get results from the nasal swab tests of symptomatic people, which it's sending to a commercial lab called LabCorp. Yet, its data releases include the number of all ordered COVID-19 tests rather than just the ones for which they have confirmed results. As an example: There were 146 swab tests ordered from Sep. 7-13, with 39 positives. But, assuming the minimum 3-day turnaround, that means at least 31 test results from Sept. 11-12 weren't back yet, but were included in the calculation of the 26.71% positivity rate, according to KU's dashboard. If you take it a step further and assume that the results from the Sept. 10 tests also weren't back yet (which is possible because commercial labs report and process data slower on weekends), that's a total of 89 tests where the results might not have been back yet, but were still included. KU's response when asked about this discrepancy was non-specific, but did acknowledge that there are some test orders included that do not yet have results. Spokesperson Erinn Barcomb-Peterson: "This data is presented in the way it is reported to us, and we do have to deal with some delays in testing results when we report out data. Any impact this has on our positivity rates is negligible over time, which is part of why we provide data looking back several weeks." That's all for today, see you on Friday! [KU social distancing sign]( [KU reports 841 total COVID-19 cases, says community tested positive at over 10% in last week]( The University of Kansas’ total number of COVID-19 cases has risen to 841, the school announced Tuesday afternoon — an increase of 42 cases since data was last released Friday. KU for the first time reported a 7-day positive test rate of over 10%, the benchmark experts have used to signify problem areas. [Read the full story here]( IMAGE OF THE DAY [Party]( A house on Mississippi Street, near David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium, is shown packed with students partying ahead of the first KU football game of the season on Saturday, September 12, 2020. On Monday, KU told the Journal-World it had issued 14-day public health bans from campus facilities to an unspecified number of people at two off-campus houses due to partying — see the story below. (Reader-contributed photo) IN OTHER KU NEWS [Food court in KU's DeBruce Center closes after employee tests positive for COVID-19]( Courtside Cafe, the food court located inside the DeBruce Center at the University of Kansas, will close through Sept. 28 after a part-time employee of KU Dining tested positive for COVID-19. Other employees will quarantine for 14 days, but no patrons are suspected to be at high risk of virus transmission. [Picture of DeBruce Center]( [Local agencies disagree over who has responsibility to enforce public health rules related to COVID-19]( Area law enforcement, public health leaders and KU officials struggled early this week to explain why no one was able to shut down weekend parties related to football games that clearly violated local and state health guidelines related to COVID-19. Multiple agencies gave conflicting information about who was responsible for enforcement of public health orders. [LPD Car]( If you enjoy the Mount Oread Messenger, you can [subscribe to receive it here.]( To reach Mount Oread Messenger author Conner Mitchell, please email cmitchell@ljworld.com or call 785-832-6388. Tips can also be submitted at [Conner's tip form]( or at his secure email address,[connermitchell@protonmail.com](mailto:connermitchell@protonmail.som). [subscribe to the lawrence journal-world here]( This message was sent by the Lawrence Journal-World. You are receiving this because at some point in the past you shared your email address with the Journal-World To opt-out of emails like this, click the link below. [Click here to unsubscribe and manage your email subscriptions.]( Lawrence Journal-World PO Box 888, Lawrence, KS 66044