‘It’s really scary’: COVID-19 spikes on Drake University campus – KCCI Des Moines

As of Wednesday morning, there were 193 positive COVID-19 cases among students at Drake University.The university has taken action making all pharmacy classes remote, and empowering faculty to decide if their classes are online or in-person.There are 20 students isolating on campus.”It’s really scary, “said Olivia Gernandt, a sophomore at Drake.Some students believe the spike in COVID-19 cases started with the Drake Relays last week. “Yeah. Definitely, it was the instigator of the COVID spike,” said Will Jeffries, a sophomore at Drake.The university says that is not so.Drake officials said its contract tracing teams determined the initial spread took place separate from the Drake Relays.Seniors are concerned the recent turn of events could affect their in-person graduation.Drake says with the school community’s help and compliance, they can stem the current spread of COVID-19 on campus and preserve an in-person commencement experience for the graduating seniors.Other universities around Iowa are also experiencing COVID-19 positive tests. The University of Iowa’s COVID-19 dashboard says 38 students self-reported their positive test in the last week. Iowa State University reports nine positive cases through on-campus testing from April 25 to May 1. Three were self-reported.The University of Northern Iowa said 15 people self-reported COVID-19 positives last week. Seven were confirmed through on-campus testing.The latest on COVID-19:More news: