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At a time when so many colleges and universities across the country
are struggling to keep COVID infections at bay,
Duke University has it down to a science.
The school has created and implemented a testing system which
has allowed their students to have an almost normal school year
right in the middle of a pandemic.
The CDC has even published a report on Duke's pool testing program so that other school's can follow their lead.
Duke University President Vincent Price is joining us right now.
President Price, thank you so much for joining us. Tell us more about your testing system
and why it's been so incredibly successful.
Well it's been successful because there's quite a bit of logistical work behind it.
We have 15 different testing sites across our campus
We actually have a mobile van that goes off campus to collect tests.
And so we're gathering 15,000 tests a week,
very regular surveillance of our students. It's been very important
because over half of the cases that we have detected have been asymptomatic cases.
And the people, the young kids, even if they're asymptomatic, they can spread. They're contagious. They can spread the virus to others rather easily.
With students heading home, President Price, for the holidays
how are you making sure they don't take the virus home with them or eventually bring it back to campus.
Well our surveillance testing indicates that the rates of infection are actually extremely low in our student population,
less than two-tenths of one percent.
Because of the extensive safety protocols we put into place,
and because the students themselves have been conducting themselves with great care
throughout the semester, I think they'll carry that sense of responsibility back home with them.
But our basic rule is to take nothing for granted.
So we're using several tactics to make sure that students return safely to their homes.
We're first of all conducting exit testing for students.
Many states are now requiring negative tests for returning students and other visitors and
we've planned for testing and for quarantine.
All of our students, secondly, who are leaving campus in the Durham area, are required to inform us
of all of their departure plans. And thirdly, once the students leave
they will not be allowed back to campus until the spring semester and we will again perform entry testing at that point.
Do you have a plan in place, President Price, at Duke University, in case student infection rates are too high after the holiday break, let's say?
Well we do have plenty of room for isolation and quarantine of students.
We'll be doing entry testing as we did this past semester.
We've learned a lot and we feel we're well prepared for this spring.
But again, we're taking nothing for granted.
Throughout this first semester, we kept our eye on our weekly totals, we adjusted our plans,
we deployed teams of dedicated staff and students to help promote safe behaviors , it's what we call the Duke Compact,
and we monitored how we were doing. Basically we considered ourselves surviving and advancing day by day and week by week
with the understanding that we we just one large gathering perhaps away from a potential outbreak.
So you know, we know that asymptotic carriers can spread this virus rapidly.
We're taking extraordinary care
but we do have plans in place, as I say, to isolate students.
We have wonderful medical care both of our student health system and through our university health system.
So the students are going home for Thanksgiving. When are they supposed to come back to campus?
We we've actually, we're wrapping up our semester now. So we've advanced our fall semester and condensed it
so that the students could study, return home before Thanksgiving, finish their semester, return home, and they won't be coming back until the middle of January for the spring term.
Well we wish you only the best. And thank you for everything you're doing.
The President of Duke University Vincent Price, we're grateful to you. Good luck.
Well thank you so much Wolf.
And good luck to all the students, the faculty, everyone else at Duke University.