Below are the charts and data from the university’s COVID-19 dashboard as published from August to December, 2020. Switch to the current 2021 dashboard.
On-Campus Testing
This section presents detailed data about our on-campus testing program, administered by University Health Services. It does not include off-campus testing data provided by Public Health Madison & Dane County (PHMDC).
For testing information about all university members, including data from those tested off-campus and shared with us by PHMDC, visit this section below: On- and Off-Campus Testing.
On-Campus Positive Test Percentage
(2.5%)
(97.5%)
Testing Results By Day
| Date | Students positive (%) | Total student tests |
Employees positive (%) | Total employee tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 31 | 5 (1.1) | 474 | 3 (1.2) | 259 |
| Dec 30 | 7 (1.7) | 407 | 2 (0.6) | 354 |
| Dec 29 | 10 (1.4) | 739 | 5 (1.3) | 373 |
| Dec 28 | 0 (0.0) | 0 | 0 (0.0) | 0 |
| Dec 27 | 0 (0.0) | 19 | 0 (0.0) | 12 |
| Dec 26 | 0 (0.0) | 0 | 0 (0.0) | 0 |
| Dec 25 | 0 (0.0) | 0 | 0 (0.0) | 0 |
| Dec 24 | 2 (0.4) | 447 | 4 (1.0) | 399 |
| Dec 23 | 1 (0.2) | 422 | 4 (1.0) | 412 |
| Dec 22 | 10 (1.1) | 916 | 0 (0.0) | 439 |
| Dec 21 | 0 (0.0) | 2 | 0 (0.0) | 0 |
| Dec 20 | 0 (0.0) | 0 | 0 (0.0) | 0 |
| Dec 19 | 7 (0.5) | 1,307 | 2 (0.6) | 354 |
| Dec 18 | 8 (0.5) | 1,497 | 0 (0.0) | 332 |
| Dec 17 | 4 (0.4) | 962 | 3 (1.3) | 236 |
| Dec 16 | 4 (0.4) | 1,124 | 5 (2.0) | 252 |
| Dec 15 | 13 (0.9) | 1,373 | 4 (1.1) | 355 |
| Dec 14 | 0 (0.0) | 0 | 0 (0.0) | 0 |
| Dec 13 | 0 (0.0) | 0 | 0 (0.0) | 0 |
| Dec 12 | 6 (0.6) | 1,067 | 1 (0.4) | 223 |
| Dec 11 | 11 (1.0) | 1,081 | 1 (0.4) | 279 |
| Dec 10 | 8 (1.3) | 597 | 3 (1.4) | 211 |
| Dec 9 | 4 (0.4) | 983 | 4 (1.3) | 307 |
| Dec 8 | 13 (1.0) | 1,262 | 2 (0.6) | 335 |
| Dec 7 | 0 (0.0) | 0 | 0 (0.0) | 0 |
| Dec 6 | 2 (100.0) | 2 | 0 (0.0) | 0 |
| Dec 5 | 17 (1.6) | 1,044 | 2 (0.7) | 269 |
| Dec 4 | 13 (1.1) | 1,213 | 4 (1.3) | 314 |
| Dec 3 | 16 (2.5) | 631 | 2 (0.9) | 230 |
| Dec 2 | 17 (1.6) | 1,048 | 3 (1.0) | 309 |
| Dec 1 | 25 (1.7) | 1,471 | 3 (0.8) | 383 |
| Nov 30 | 2 (0.7) | 274 | 0 (0.0) | 54 |
| Nov 29 | 0 (0.0) | 6 | 0 (0.0) | 1 |
| Nov 28 | 8 (4.5) | 176 | 2 (2.1) | 94 |
| Nov 27 | 0 (0.0) | 3 | 0 (0.0) | 0 |
| Nov 26 | 7 (0.7) | 1,015 | 3 (0.8) | 370 |
| Nov 25 | 14 (0.8) | 1,853 | 0 (0.0) | 306 |
| Nov 24 | 27 (1.1) | 2,373 | 4 (1.1) | 366 |
| Nov 23 | 6 (0.9) | 642 | 2 (3.1) | 65 |
| Nov 22 | 17 (1.8) | 934 | 0 (0.0) | 81 |
| Nov 21 | 33 (1.8) | 1,821 | 0 (0.0) | 261 |
| Nov 20 | 29 (1.5) | 1,918 | 1 (0.4) | 255 |
| Nov 19 | 32 (1.6) | 2,061 | 2 (0.7) | 294 |
| Nov 18 | 63 (3.2) | 1,956 | 2 (0.9) | 226 |
| Nov 17 | 87 (3.5) | 2,481 | 4 (1.4) | 288 |
| Nov 16 | 0 (0.0) | 1 | 0 (0.0) | 0 |
| Nov 15 | 0 (0.0) | 5 | 0 (0.0) | 1 |
| Nov 14 | 76 (4.3) | 1,760 | 5 (1.6) | 308 |
| Nov 13 | 108 (4.0) | 2,721 | 4 (1.1) | 365 |
| Nov 12 | 88 (4.2) | 2,090 | 6 (1.8) | 329 |
| Nov 11 | 79 (4.2) | 1,866 | 5 (1.8) | 276 |
| Nov 10 | 43 (2.4) | 1,766 | 8 (3.6) | 220 |
| Nov 9 | 23 (4.1) | 559 | 2 (2.7) | 74 |
| Nov 8 | 11 (9.8) | 112 | 0 (0.0) | 20 |
| Nov 7 | 64 (3.2) | 1,973 | 2 (0.8) | 260 |
| Nov 6 | 62 (3.2) | 1,920 | 5 (2.0) | 250 |
| Nov 5 | 30 (2.2) | 1,381 | 6 (2.3) | 261 |
| Nov 4 | 45 (2.3) | 1,995 | 4 (1.5) | 272 |
| Nov 3 | 45 (2.1) | 2,132 | 9 (3.4) | 268 |
| Nov 2 | 7 (2.7) | 258 | 1 (2.3) | 44 |
| Nov 1 | 14 (3.9) | 359 | 1 (1.4) | 72 |
| Oct 31 | 41 (2.2) | 1,841 | 3 (1.2) | 260 |
| Oct 30 | 14 (1.2) | 1,210 | 4 (2.3) | 173 |
| Oct 29 | 26 (1.6) | 1,578 | 8 (3.3) | 243 |
| Oct 28 | 44 (2.2) | 2,001 | 10 (3.7) | 269 |
| Oct 27 | 32 (1.9) | 1,660 | 9 (5.2) | 172 |
| Oct 26 | 1 (2.4) | 42 | 1 (6.3) | 16 |
| Oct 25 | 9 (2.1) | 438 | 2 (1.6) | 126 |
| Oct 24 | 16 (1.3) | 1,205 | 2 (1.6) | 127 |
| Oct 23 | 7 (0.5) | 1,283 | 3 (2.3) | 133 |
| Oct 22 | 10 (0.8) | 1,245 | 4 (2.6) | 156 |
| Oct 21 | 27 (1.5) | 1,784 | 1 (0.5) | 189 |
| Oct 20 | 22 (1.4) | 1,561 | 5 (4.1) | 123 |
| Oct 19 | 3 (1.4) | 214 | 1 (2.0) | 51 |
| Oct 18 | 0 (0.0) | 7 | 0 (0.0) | 3 |
| Oct 17 | 11 (0.9) | 1,208 | 1 (0.6) | 169 |
| Oct 16 | 15 (1.0) | 1,472 | 3 (1.5) | 199 |
| Oct 15 | 16 (1.0) | 1,679 | 4 (2.3) | 176 |
| Oct 14 | 13 (0.7) | 1,971 | 3 (1.3) | 231 |
| Oct 13 | 16 (1.1) | 1,397 | 1 (0.8) | 129 |
| Oct 12 | 14 (2.8) | 507 | 1 (1.2) | 83 |
| Oct 11 | 7 (1.7) | 403 | 0 (0.0) | 110 |
| Oct 10 | 13 (1.0) | 1,255 | 1 (0.7) | 150 |
| Oct 9 | 15 (1.0) | 1,534 | 4 (2.1) | 190 |
| Oct 8 | 15 (0.8) | 1,907 | 2 (1.0) | 197 |
| Oct 7 | 11 (0.7) | 1,670 | 1 (0.9) | 111 |
| Oct 6 | 9 (0.7) | 1,239 | 1 (0.6) | 155 |
| Oct 5 | 0 (0.0) | 1 | 0 (0.0) | 0 |
| Oct 4 | 2 (0.8) | 244 | 0 (0.0) | 61 |
| Oct 3 | 14 (1.0) | 1,427 | 1 (0.5) | 208 |
| Oct 2 | 9 (0.8) | 1,094 | 1 (1.4) | 71 |
| Oct 1 | 9 (0.7) | 1,337 | 0 (0.0) | 111 |
| Sep 30 | 19 (1.2) | 1,587 | 1 (0.6) | 166 |
| Sep 29 | 15 (0.8) | 1,804 | 1 (0.6) | 178 |
| Sep 28 | 0 (0.0) | 2 | 0 (0.0) | 2 |
| Sep 27 | 11 (3.1) | 357 | 0 (0.0) | 98 |
| Sep 26 | 18 (2.3) | 787 | 0 (0.0) | 85 |
| Sep 25 | 20 (1.3) | 1,500 | 2 (1.3) | 158 |
| Sep 24 | 34 (2.9) | 1,174 | 1 (1.0) | 101 |
| Sep 23 | 34 (2.7) | 1,252 | 0 (0.0) | 114 |
| Sep 22 | 13 (2.0) | 640 | 0 (0.0) | 33 |
| Sep 21 | 3 (33.3) | 9 | 0 (0.0) | 1 |
| Sep 20 | 46 (5.7) | 806 | 0 (0.0) | 151 |
| Sep 19 | 64 (4.1) | 1,553 | 0 (0.0) | 111 |
| Sep 18 | 74 (5.2) | 1,432 | 1 (0.9) | 114 |
| Sep 17 | 86 (6.5) | 1,330 | 1 (0.6) | 178 |
| Sep 16 | 124 (7.3) | 1,708 | 3 (1.6) | 188 |
| Sep 15 | 10 (2.8) | 356 | 1 (2.8) | 36 |
| Sep 14 | 2 (8.0) | 25 | 0 (0.0) | 2 |
| Sep 13 | 187 (9.0) | 2,087 | 1 (0.9) | 107 |
| Sep 12 | 76 (7.5) | 1,009 | 0 (0.0) | 62 |
| Sep 11 | 67 (7.8) | 859 | 0 (0.0) | 83 |
| Sep 10 | 219 (9.8) | 2,238 | 0 (0.0) | 122 |
| Sep 9 | 290 (12.8) | 2,264 | 0 (0.0) | 138 |
| Sep 8 | 24 (19.5) | 123 | 1 (20.0) | 5 |
| Sep 7 | 20 (21.7) | 92 | 0 (0.0) | 2 |
| Sep 6 | 146 (7.7) | 1,897 | 1 (0.7) | 139 |
| Sep 5 | 117 (6.3) | 1,845 | 1 (0.6) | 167 |
| Sep 4 | 91 (6.1) | 1,496 | 1 (0.7) | 148 |
| Sep 3 | 38 (4.3) | 879 | 0 (0.0) | 109 |
| Sep 2 | 34 (3.8) | 906 | 0 (0.0) | 93 |
| Sep 1 | 49 (3.1) | 1,589 | 0 (0.0) | 72 |
| Aug 31 | 8 (1.0) | 839 | 0 (0.0) | 8 |
| Aug 30 | 14 (1.5) | 930 | 0 (0.0) | 52 |
| Aug 29 | 25 (2.2) | 1,149 | 1 (1.4) | 72 |
| Aug 28 | 14 (1.6) | 878 | 0 (0.0) | 61 |
| Aug 27 | 7 (0.6) | 1,131 | 0 (0.0) | 41 |
| Aug 26 | 19 (1.3) | 1,484 | 1 (1.2) | 86 |
| Aug 25 | 9 (1.9) | 475 | 0 (0.0) | 44 |
| Aug 24 | 0 (0.0) | 0 | 0 (0.0) | 0 |
| Aug 23 | 2 (1.2) | 171 | 0 (0.0) | 37 |
| Aug 22 | 3 (1.6) | 186 | 0 (0.0) | 51 |
| Aug 21 | 2 (0.9) | 235 | 0 (0.0) | 79 |
| Aug 20 | 0 (0.0) | 194 | 0 (0.0) | 128 |
| Aug 19 | 1 (0.5) | 192 | 0 (0.0) | 123 |
| Aug 18 | 5 (2.5) | 201 | 0 (0.0) | 126 |
| Aug 17 | 0 (0.0) | 0 | 0 (0.0) | 1 |
| Total | 3,711 (2.7%) | 136,826 | 233 (1.1%) | 21,025 |
On- and Off-Campus Testing
The charts below include positive test results from on-campus testing, which began August 6, and from off-campus testing shared with us by Public Health Madison & Dane County (PHMDC). Counts for a specific date reflect the date those test results came to us. The summary PHMDC data dates back to July 28.
PHMDC collects information on UW affiliation only for individuals who test positive. Therefore, the total number of tests and the percentage of tests that are positive for university employees and students tested off campus are not available.
Summary Data
Data below includes results from on-campus testing, which began August 6, and from off-campus testing shared with us by Public Health Madison & Dane County.
Total Positive Tests To Date
- Students
- 4851
- Employees
- 563
- Total
- 5414
Total Positive Tests by
Location Where Test Was Done
To date, 3,944 positive tests have come from on-campus testing and 1,470 have come from off-campus testing.
Data Notes
Notable events
August 6, 2020: First campus testing site opens on Henry Mall
August 25, 2020: Additional sites open at Ogg Hall and Frank Holt Center.
August 25-31, 2020: Students move into campus residence halls
September 2, 2020: First day of classes
September 7, 2020: Undergraduates directed to restrict movements through September 21
September 9, 2020: In-person classes paused from September 10–25.
September 26, 2020: Some in-person activity resumed.
October 6, 2020: Pedestrian and drive-up testing site opens at the Porter Boathouse.
November 30, 2020: Following Thanksgiving recess, campus switches to all-virtual group instruction and urges undergraduates to remain at their permanent homes until start of spring semester.
About the Data
- This dashboard features data from testing performed on and off campus of current students and employees. Public Health Madison & Dane County collects information on UW affiliation only for individuals who test positive. Therefore, the total number of tests and the percentage of tests that are positive for university employees and students tested off campus are not available.
- Positive test counts reported by UW–Madison and PHMDC may initially differ due to differences in the timing of reporting and the need to determine UW affiliation for those tested off campus.
- “Students” includes all currently enrolled students: undergraduate, graduate/professional and special students.
- “Employees” includes all currently employed faculty and staff. It does not include student and graduate employees; they are counted under students.
- This dashboard does not distinguish between students living on or off campus. The location where testing was performed does not correspond to the on- or off-campus status of a student or employee.
- The 7-day average of positive cases is the number of cases over the past 7 days divided by 7. The 7-day average percent positive is the number of positive test results over the past 7 days divided by the total number of tests done over the past 7 days.
- On September 3, 2020, the dashboard was updated to better integrate daily data provided to us by PHMDC. Specifically, this data is presented in the chart title New Positive Tests Reported By Day.
- On September 16, the dashboard was updated to more accurately represent employee or student status and to exclude patients with a previous positive test through UHS within the past 90 days, because people may test positive up to 90 days after their initial positive test.
- On October 2, we aligned Public Health Madison & Dane County testing data with on-campus testing data by assigning PHMDC results to the date the test results were first reported. Previously, we assigned PHMDC testing results to the date they were shared with UW–Madison, regardless of when they were first reported. This better aligns on- and off-campus testing dates and removes some artificial fluctuations in the data due to lags in off-campus test reports. In addition, we identified 43 students and employees who tested positive at on-campus testing sites but were being double counted in both on- and off-campus totals. We have removed these duplicates from the off-campus data.
- Questions? Email contact-us@uc.wisc.edu