Over the past week, Northeastern’s Boston campus has seen a steep rise in COVID-19 cases. As of March 27, the seven-day average positive test rate was 0.40%, more than double what it was a week ago. There are currently 114 students in isolation and 109 students in quarantine, according to an email from Ken Henderson, chancellor and senior vice president for learning. 

“Most people in our university community are not yet vaccinated. It is still not safe to gather with people living in different households if they are not wearing masks and practicing healthy distancing,” Henderson wrote. 

The email also reminded students to provide contact tracers with comprehensive and honest information to ensure the containment of COVID-19.

“Remember, our contact tracing team is bound by law to protect your privacy,” Henderson said. “They will not reveal your identity to close contacts. They will not report where you were or what you were doing to close contacts or Northeastern administrators.”

Jason Noen-Doerr, director of the Center for Student Involvement, echoed this sentiment in a March 28 email addressed to student organization leaders. 

“I’m asking for each of you to help by encouraging your members to practice physical distancing, to continue wearing masks, to limit indoor gatherings where distancing is not possible, and to only travel when necessary,” Noen-Doerr wrote. 

Individuals in Phase 1 or Phase 2 of the vaccine rollout plan are currently eligible to register for the vaccine. This includes people 60 and older, those with two comorbidities, educators, health care workers, first responders and other essential workers. Starting April 5, people 55 and older, along with individuals with one comorbidity, will be eligible to register for their vaccination appointment. The general public is eligible to register for a vaccine starting April 19.

As of March 25, 179,747 Boston residents had been vaccinated, leaving the city with a total vaccination rate of 26.2%. However, as of March 28, there are an estimated 29,806 active cases of COVID-19 in Boston, resulting in a seven-day percent positivity average of 2.35%.