Mount Allison University says it is seeing increased cases of COVID-19 on campus, and is asking the campus community to “diligently follow” the school’s public health protocols. The school released new case counts on Tuesday reflecting 49 new cases in the past week, all self-reported from people getting positive rapid test results. That number may include some people who are currently not on campus in Sackville.
As of Tuesday morning, the school reports 33 people with active cases in the Sackville campus community. Seven of those cases are in people living off campus, and 26 are in residence.
The school has been giving weekly updates on case counts since January 18, and this is the largest jump in new cases during that time. It’s also the first time that on campus cases outnumber off campus cases. Since January 3, the school has reported a total of 174 people with positive rapid test results that they have shared with the university’s .
Despite the end of the provincial health order on Monday, Mount Allison has opted to keep certain measures in place until at least April 30, including wearing masks indoors, and asking people who test positive and their close contacts to self-isolate for at least five days. Masks are required outdoors on campus until March 14.
The school continues to distribute packages of KN95 respirators to students via the Mt A bookstore, but says that after March 14, requests for mask supply will be considered only if supply is available.