Twenty positive COVID-19 cases were reported by St. Thomas’ Center for Well-Being during the week ending April 17.

Fourteen cases came from the St. Paul campus and six came from the Minneapolis campus; 15 were students and five were employees

The Center for Well-Being states that the numbers have “remained steady and well below previous highs from the semester” and that there is no evidence of classroom transmission.

Beyond the university’s vaccine requirement, St. Thomas encourages the community to get boosted. Anyone exposed to COVID-19 who is not boosted is required to quarantine according to Centers for Disease Control health guidelines.

On Monday a federal judge in Florida struck down a national mask mandate on airplanes and mass transit, and airlines and airports swiftly began repealing their requirements that passengers wear face coverings.

Students in St. Paul and Minneapolis public schools are no longer required to wear a mask starting on Monday.

St. Thomas has not announced any change to its mask mandate, which requires a face covering to be worn in classrooms, labs, the St. Thomas shuttle and The Center for Well-Being.

Those who still need or choose to wear a mask may continue to do so. The university asks that the community respect those who choose to wear masks and recommends that everyone keep a mask on-hand.

As of April 18, The Center for Well-Being reported a 92.3% university-wide vaccination rate with a 95.9% rate among employees and a 91.4% rate among students. The university-wide vaccination rate has risen .3% since Feb. 18.

The Minnesota Department of Health reported on April 18 that 66.4% of Minnesotans have completed the vaccine series, and 45.9% are up to date with their vaccine.

St. Thomas releases COVID-19 data every Monday on the COVID-19 dashboard, which also offers protocol updates and information about reporting positive cases and getting vaccinated.

Scout Mason can be reached at maso7275@stthomas.edu.