Belmont set another record this week, but not one it should be proud of.
For the second Monday in a row, the university surpassed its growing total of positive COVID-19 cases, tallying 121 new cases among students, faculty and staff between Jan. 24 and Jan. 30.
This is the new all-time high after last week’s 107 cases.
Belmont Health Services was not available for comment prior to publication.
Data shows that omicron has peaked in Nashville and neighboring counties, but the figures at Belmont tell a different story.
“Davidson County was averaging about 1,250 infections per day as of Saturday, down from about 1,650 two weeks prior,” The Tennesean reported Wednesday.
But the trend at Belmont points the other way. At the university, 102 students tested positive this week over last week’s 92.
This figure only includes those who reported their positive result directly to Belmont Health Services or received a test on campus, according to the university’s COVID-19 dashboard.
The stark rise in cases comes during the same week in which Belmont is putting on a series of info sessions about the COVID-19 vaccine, culminating in a walk-up vaccine clinic on Friday in McWhorter Hall.
As of Monday, 74.6% of Belmont students are vaccinated against COVID-19, while faculty vaccination rates are nearly 10% higher.
Belmont plans to keep classes fully in person and still requires residential students to quarantine off-campus.
And although the spread of COVID-19 might be slowly declining in Nashville, reports suggest coronavirus isn’t going away and will rather become endemic. A less disruptive strain of the virus could stick around indefinitely, like the flu.
Appointments can be made on the myBelmont health portal for vaccines and boosters. COVID-19 tests are available for asymptomatic and mildly symptomatic individuals at the Gabhart Clinic.
Belmont hasn’t made any changes to its campus health protocols but still requires students to wear masks indoors on campus and encourages vaccination.
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This article was written by Sarah Maninger.
Updated Feb. 1 at 1:35 p.m. to clarify Belmont students are required to wear masks on campus.