COVID-19 cases remain low during ninth week of classes

BY BRAD BYRNE, STAFF WRITER

In an email sent out to the Mason Community by the Office of Safety, Emergency, and Enterprise Risk Management on Oct. 25, Mason will now offer both Pfizer and Moderna booster shots after CDC and FDA approval for both. Those who are eligible for the boosters vaccine can sign up through Mason’s Safety, Emergency & Enterprise Risk Management website.

 According to the Mason COVID-19 dashboard, during the ninth week of classes, from Oct. 17 to Oct. 23, five new students tested positive out of 3,664 students tested. One employee tested positive out of 663 employees tested. This is a 0.1% positivity rate for students and a 0.2% positivity rate for employees.

 As of the eighth week of classes, from Oct. 10 to Oct. 16, seven new students tested positive out of 3,589 students tested. Zero employees tested positive out of 678 employees tested. This is a 0.2% positivity rate for students and a 0.0% positivity rate for employees.

 In Fairfax County, 755,492 residents have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as of Oct. 25. This is a vaccination rate of 75.7% of people ages 18 and older.

 In Virginia, 5,340,940 residents are fully vaccinated, with a vaccination rate of 62.6% as of Oct. 25.