A total of 49 students and university employees tested positive for COVID-19 last week through Morgan State’s on-campus testing system. 

Out of 370 individuals, 45 students and four employees tested positive between May 1 to 7.

This is the university’s second highest number of positives; the highest was 53 the week of Dec. 12, 2021 at the end of the fall semester. 

The week prior to the last COVID testing period was I Love Morgan Week where students gathered on campus for many in-person events. The week included

Anita Hawkins, associate dean of the School of Community Health and Policy, said I Love Morgan Week was a possible cause for the rise in cases.

“There were a ton of events and just because of probably more socializing than there had been before. Just as it is in the community, I think in general, more socializing. I think cases came up,” Hawkins said.

According to Hawkins, none of the cases were severe.

With the relaxing of mask mandates nationwide, COVID cases are slowly starting to rise again. 

Maryland’s positivity rate currently sits at 6.39 percent, according to the Maryland Department of Health.

The Baltimore Sun reported a 243 percent increase of infections in Baltimore within the past month. 

Morgan has not been exempt of this increase as positives skyrocketed from an average of four cases per week in April to 49 in the first week of May.

 Although the cases substantially increased, Hawkins advises the community not to panic, but to be more vigilant as the pandemic continues.

“I don’t want folks to panic when you see some of the numbers and quite frankly, we’ve done really well when you think about it during the semester,” Hawkins said.

After last week’s 13 percent positivity rate, Hawkins assured the university will respond accordingly to the increase in cases.

As graduation approaches within the next two weeks, Hawkins said the university will require all guests to wear masks indoors for commencement activities. 

Aside from last week, the university averages less than four positives per week out of 359 people through the university’s testing system. 

However, on average about 251 students get tested each week, which only makes up about three percent of the enrolled student population; 8,469 according to the university’s finance and facilities committee.

Students that test positive outside the university’s testing system are expected to report their case to the health center so it can be added to the weekly number of total positives.

Hawkins said, “We’re looking at our campus community. if we see any indicators that tell us, you know, danger warning signs, we will respond.”