COVID Testing and Tracing Update

Dear Members of the NJIT Community,

Yesterday we learned of our first positive COVID-19 case for a residential student who attended converged courses in person. This student had been tested prior to arrival on campus, but a follow-up test yielded a positive result. Following our variables for operational change, NJIT immediately moved the individual into an isolation room in our residence halls, changed the mode of instruction for the classes attended to fully remote for 14 days from last attendance of the impacted individual, and recommended quarantine for all individuals identified through our contact tracing program who had the opportunity for close contact. In addition, out of an abundance of caution, we moved all other courses taught by the same instructor to converged remote for the same period of time. The Dean of Students office will be following up with the student and their parents and the Provost’s Office with the instructional staff as appropriate.

While this circumstance may create additional anxiety for many, NJIT developed and enacted its comprehensive testing and tracing program for just this purpose. Identifying positive cases through this process always has been our intention and expectation. Doing so helps isolate individuals who may be contagious but never develop symptoms. Following our variables for operational change, we will limit the potential exposure of others quickly and effectively.

Going forward, we will provide information on the status of COVID-19 infection on the dashboard on the pandemic recovery webpage. That dashboard will be updated each Monday. We will not release a bulletin each time a student, faculty, or staff member tests positive. Please know that our contact tracers will be in touch with each and every individual determined to have been in close contact with anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 through our ongoing surveillance program. If you have not heard from our contact tracers, you have not been in close contact with the individual.

During the first week of classes, members of the administration, public safety, and other staff members have been reminding individuals of their responsibility to wear face coverings, social distance, and minimize group interaction. We all want to remain on campus, learning in person, and that can be done if we accept our personal responsibility to protect each other. 

Stay well,

Andrew P. Christ, PE
Senior Vice President
Real Estate Development and Capital Operations