News

Humboldt State University announced today that all students who moved onto campus have been tested for COVID-19 and a second round is underway.

A total of six students have come back positive, including one who lives off-campus but opted to be tested at the Student Health Center, according to a news release.

Results for 50 of the 782 tests for on-campus residents have not yet come back and one student have been released from isolation, as has a campus employee who tested positive.

“HSU has contracted with two commercial labs to continue COVID-19 testing of students in order to reduce strain on county resources for second round testing,” the release states. “About 500 have already been collected, with approximately 100 be processed daily, and County Health processing another 50 daily.”

The number of cases affecting the HSU students and employees will be updated daily at campusready.humboldt.edu.

Read the full HSU release below: 

Humboldt State has conducted tests on all student residents, and second round testing is well underway.

One additional non-resident student has tested positive since Saturday after choosing to be tested at the Student Health Center. That case was not related to residence hall move-in. Another has been cleared by Humboldt County Public Health.

A total of 6 students have tested positive. So far, 782 student residents have been tested and HSU is still awaiting results for 50 of those tests from County Public Health.

The positivity rate of those results is .82 percent, compared to a county rate of 1.68 percent and the state 14-day rate of 6.1 percent. One student who had tested positive has been released from isolation by Humboldt County Public Health.

The affected students have been moved to rooms on campus that are set aside for isolation. The University is providing ongoing support including frequent health and wellness checks with the students, as well as delivery of meals and other necessities.

HSU has contracted with two commercial labs to continue COVID-19 testing of students in order to reduce strain on county resources for second round testing. About 500 have already been collected, with approximately 100 be processed daily, and County Health processing another 50 daily.

A University employee who was affected by COVID-19 has also been released from isolation by Public Health. Going forward, the number of cases affecting the HSU students and employees will be updated daily at campusready.humboldt.edu.

Based on its policies and protocols, the University is protecting the privacy rights of the students while also working to share information necessary to protect the health of the campus and the broader community.

HSU is working closely with Humboldt County Public Health, which will determine whether there are members of the campus community who need to be advised of their contact with affected people. Comprehensive testing is continuing for all students living on campus this year.

Campus residents will be tested multiple times during the course of a 14-day quarantine period. This enhanced level of testing is intended to identify those who may be asymptomatic and isolate them quickly, and was implemented with the help of additional resources from the state and county.

In addition to the required testing for students living on campus, all other HSU students may opt to be tested at the Student Health Center and all students showing symptoms will be tested. Student-athletes are also being tested periodically per state requirements. This advisory provides all the information the University will share about the cases.

Guidelines and Support

The campus community is encouraged to stay safe and healthy, and to help protect the health of the community, by adhering to the Social Responsibility Commitment. This includes wearing a face covering, maintaining social distancing, and staying at home if you are sick or have a fever.

The ongoing challenges of the pandemic can lead to increased stress and anxiety. Any students who would like to talk with a counselor can contact Counseling & Psychological Services at 707.826.3236. Staff or faculty needing additional support may call the Employee Assistance Program at 707.443.7358. For more information about COVID-19, visit the California Department of Public Health website. For more information about HSU’s plans for the fall semester, visit the HSU Campus Ready website.