OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations have been spiking for almost two months with no sign of decline in sight, but state health leaders say there is one source for optimism, and it comes from a place that was once blamed for the surge in cases.
There are plenty of lessons taught on UW’s campuses. The biggest of them all might be how to stop the state’s dramatic surge in COVID-19 cases.
“I think the lesson from campuses is frequent testing, taking mask wearing seriously and doing contact tracing has worked,” said Dr. Ryan Westergaard, Chief Medical Officer for the Wisconsin Department of Health Services Bureau of Communicable Diseases. “That is proof it has worked in those settings.”
Like many other UW schools, Oshkosh’s campus saw a rise in COVID cases in September. Unlike the rest of the state, the campuses have been able to flatten the curve.
In the past seven days, the positive case rate at UWO is 2.9%. In all of Winnebago County, it’s about four times higher, at 12.5%.
UW-Oshkosh’s Chancellor Andrew Leavitt tells FOX 11….
“If you look at the fact that we have such a low positivity rate right now and if you look at what’s going on around us in the community, the students are making a conscious choice not to get sick. They must be. I can’t think of another explanation as to why.”
Leavitt believes the main difference is testing. Specifically, antigen testing.
Campus officials say antigen tests have faster results, aren’t as expensive, but also aren’t as accurate, so they use PCR tests to confirm any positive results.
“We use both, but giving us those tools to merge together in our toolbox allows us to really get a hold of the virus and understand where the hotspots are and almost go after the virus,” said Kimberly Langolf, UW-Oshkosh’s Director of Risk & Safety & Sponsored Programs.
UWO administers 430 antigen tests a day. That volume is why the CDC just spent 10 days at the university, hoping to validate the testing as a surveillance tool for people not showing any symptoms.
Westergaard says the state plans to use antigen tests more as they become more available.
“We’re also using them in long-term care facilities and we’re getting additional shipments from the federal government to use in additional settings in healthcare and long-term care and potentially educational settings as well.”
Leavitt also says they’re seeing success with the virus because students are wearing masks. A student who has repeated violations for not wearing one could be removed from school.
“In walking through campus and walking through academic buildings, I have yet to see a person who was not wearing a mask. It’s amazing.”
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