Iowa State officials say they're prepared for the semester as COVID-19 cases soar
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COVID-19 cases and test positivity rates at Iowa State University have never been higher in well over a year, but as elsewhere, university officials say they are confident they can respond to the demands the situation may place on the campus as students return to class Tuesday.
Meanwhile, as the disease rises to levels not seen since November 2020, local health officials in Ames are warning that a high number of calls and requests for appointments for upper respiratory illnesses will affect the area's health care resources through March.
More: Iowa has the most new COVID cases since November 2020, nearing a weekly record, latest update shows
A testament to the increased infectiousness of the omicron variant of coronavirus: From the week of Dec. 20-26, to the end following week — Dec. 27-Jan. 2 — cases at Iowa State quadrupled and the positivity rate went from 5.65% to more than 35%.
The rise came between semesters, as most students had returned home for the holiday season. The spike came as the number of tests being conducted declined by more than 36% between Christmas and New Year's Eve.
By the end of the following week, Jan. 3-9 — after testing increased four-fold — cases more than quadrupled again and the campus' positivity rate climbed to more than 38%.
The number of weekly reported cases — 123 last week — has never been higher since November 2020, according to university data.
By testing volume, the positivity rate has never been higher since a record set on Aug. 25, 2020, which came about a week after large student parties that university and local officials condemned at the start of that fall semester.
There was a higher daily rate of 42% on March 27, 2021, but the result was from just seven of 12 people testing positive.
Drake University announced last week that the first two weeks of its spring semester would be online only after the rising number of cases prompted concerns that a large number of students who could be out sick or in quarantine would cause "extreme disruption of the classroom experience."
Iowa's public universities have committed to in-person learning this semester, based on guidance from the Iowa Board of Regents.
Iowa State spokesperson Angie Hunt said after Drake's announcement, "the university has planned for the impact of employee and student absences. Iowa State’s public health team continues to monitor COVID-19, as well as other illnesses, and is prepared to provide recommendations to university leaders as needed."
"The university also has college and unit response teams available to address issues and challenges throughout the semester," Hunt added.
In Iowa City, University of Iowa President Barbara Wilson wrote to the campus community on Thursday, asking "us all to put aside our differences and commit to working together" as the semester starts.
Wilson shared an outlook buoyed by factors including local COVID-19 vaccination rates, the availability of booster shots and the advancement of effective treatments.
Fact check: Omicron coronavirus variant is not the common cold
Still, universities are encouraging their community members to get vaccinated, wear face masks, stay home if sick and use available testing options.
Back in Ames, where Story County's positivity rate is above 21%, McFarland Clinic issued a patient guide Thursday on when to seek testing and care, due to an "extremely high volume of calls and requests for appointments for multiple upper respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19," according to a news release.
The clinic's chief medical officer, Dr. Christi Taylor, said in the release, “We are making every effort to triage patient concerns so that we can continue to provide the best care possible."
While Taylor said the new guidance will help, "We anticipate high volumes and adjusted workflows through at least March."
About 61% of people living in Story County had been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as of Jan. 11, according to data from the Iowa Department of Public Health.
Phillip Sitter covers education for the Ames Tribune, including Iowa State University and PreK-12 schools in Ames and elsewhere in Story County. Phillip can be reached via email at psitter@gannett.com. He is on Twitter @pslifeisabeauty.
This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: Iowa State University COVID-19 cases over break highest since fall 2020
