The University of Virginia this week launched a UVA COVID Tracker that will be updated daily with key public health statistics, including the number of coronavirus cases reported within the University community.

The tracker – available here – includes the total number of COVID-19 cases reported among faculty, staff, students and contract workers, the number of student cases, the percentage of the University’s quarantine or isolation rooms occupied, the number of new COVID-19 hospitalizations at UVA Health and the average turnaround time for COVID-19 tests at UVA Health, currently at 18 hours. The tracker will be updated daily with information from UVA Health, Student Health and Employee Health.

The numbers represent tests taken within the University community and do not reflect the pre-arrival tests that students took as a condition of returning to Grounds and the Charlottesville area.

As of Thursday morning, the tracker reported 58 total positive cases among faculty, staff, students and contract employees since Aug. 17, including 31 student cases, and one new COVID-19 hospitalization. Five percent of quarantine rooms were occupied, a statistic that includes students who are quarantining after travel to abide by public health requirements.

As part of the health and safety plans developed to limit the spread of the virus, UVA officials will establish contact with anyone who tests positive for the coronavirus, in order to ensure that they receive treatment, go into isolation and follow Virginia Department of Health guidelines. The Virginia Department of Health is leading contact tracing efforts for those who test positive, and will reach out to individuals who have potentially been exposed and need to quarantine.

Though some positive cases are to be expected due to the nature of the virus, University officials say, UVA is working hard to provide resources to reduce the spread of the COVID-19, help those affected and encourage all members of the University community to abide by essential healthy and safety guidelines, including maintaining physical distancing and wearing face coverings.