The figures on this page show the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases each week, including data from our Pooled (Asymptomatic) Screening programme, for the academic year 2020-21.

See also: Data from the COVID-19 testing service for 2021-22 

 

2020-21

We introduced a robust testing regime for our approximately 12,600 staff members and 23,000 students on 5 October 2020. For students resident in our Colleges (and since January 2021, many of those living in private accommodation), we offered a weekly asymptomatic screening programme. For staff and students with symptoms of possible COVID-19, we had two dedicated University testing pods.

Because of the proactive nature of our testing, we identify significant numbers of asymptomatic cases. These figures are therefore not comparable with other institutions conducting symptomatic - but not asymptomatic - testing. Our approach allows us to minimise the time between infection and identification, then minimise transmission by supporting students to self-isolate.

Total number of positive cases identified by University testing programmes (2020-21)

Week Total number of positive cases
5-11 October 2020 34
12-18 October 154
19-25 October 156
26 October - 1 November 78
2-8 November 70
9-15 November 234
16-22 November 52
23-29 November 6
30 November - 6 December  9
7 December - 13 December 12
14 Dec 2020 - 10 Jan 2021 49
11-17 January 27
18-24 January 6
25-31 January 4
1-7 February 3
8-14 February 2
15-21 February 3
22-28 February 3
1-7 March 1
8-14 March 1
15-21 March 0
22-28 March 1
29 Mar-4 April 0
5-11 April 0
12-18 April 0
19-25 April 5
26 Apr-2 May 0
3-9 May 0
10-16 May 0
17-23 May 0
24-30 May 0
31 May-6June 0
7-13 June 2
14-20 June 17
21-27 June 109
28 June - 4 July 122
5-11 July 48
12-18 July 20
19-25 July 5
26 July - 1 Aug 2
2-8 Aug 13
9-15 Aug 10
16-22 Aug 3
23-29 Aug 1
30 Aug - 5 Sept 0
6-12 Sept 1
13-19 Sept 1
20-26 Sept 3

The data above represent the total number of cases identified by University testing. They do not include results from lateral flow tests (LFTs), or from students or staff tested by the NHS. All cases have been followed-up and, where appropriate, supported to self-isolate.

Summer vacation 2021 Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Week 7 Week 8 Week 9 Week 10 Week 11 Week 12 Total
Positive staff cases 4 3 4 1 4 5 0 1 0 1 1 1 25
Easter term 2021 Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Week 7 Week 8 Week 9 Total
Positive staff cases 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Easter vacation 2021 Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Total
Positive staff cases 1 0 0 0 0 1
Lent Term 2021 Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Week 7 Week 8 Week 9 Total
Positive staff cases 2 0 2 1 1 1 0 0 0 7
Michaelmas 2020 Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Week 7 Week 8 Week 9 Total
Positive staff cases 2 0 5 3 5 8 4 1 0 28

 

Detailed breakdown by type of testing

Positive cases identified by University asymptomatic screening

Week Number of students screened Number of confirmed positive cases Positivity rate (%)
5-11 October 2020 3,463 12 0.3
12-18 October 3,675 34 0.9
19-25 October 4,660 38 0.8
26 Oct - 1 Nov 5,494 38 0.7
2-8 November 4,583 23 0.5
9-15 November 5,339 80 1.5
16-22 November 4,138 27 0.7
23-29 November 9,329 3 0.03
30 Nov - 6 Dec 10,121 0 0
7 Dec - 10 Jan 1,427* 8 0.6
11-17 Jan 2021 1,816* 16 0.9
18-24 Jan 3,570 4 0.1
25-31 Jan 3,945 2 0.05
1-7 Feb 4,058 0 0
8-14 Feb 4,156 1 0.02
15-21 Feb 3,991 0 0
22-28 Feb 4,285 1 0.02
1-7 March 4,376 0 0
8-14 March 4,330 0 0
15-21 March 4,181 0 0
22-28 March 4,022 0 0
29 Mar-4 Apr 3,494 0 0
5-11 April 3,267 0 0
12-18 April 4,070 0 0
19-25 April 5,167 4 0.08
26 Apr-2 May 6,701 0 0
3-9 May 6,634 0 0
10-16 May 6,831 0 0
17-23 May 6,822 0 0
24-30 May 6,559 0 0
31 May- 6 June 5,880 0 0
7-13 June 5,472 2 0.04
14-20 June 5,190 4 0.08
21-27 June 6,099 72 1.2**
28 Jun-4 Jul 4,141 76 1.8**
5-11 July 1,954 29 1.5**
12-18 July 105 9 -***
19-25 July 39 2 -***
25 July - 1 Aug 28 0 -***
2-8 Aug 11 0 -***
9-15 Aug 3 1 -***
16-22 Aug 4 0 -***
23-29 Aug 1 0 -***
30 Aug - 5 Sept 0 0 -***
6-12 Sept 4 0 -***
13-19 Sept 0 0 -***
20-26 Sept 1 0 -***

Cases identified by the pooled Asymptomatic COVID-19 Screening Programme are only counted after positive individual confirmatory tests. To avoid double-counting, these individual confirmatory tests are not included in the ‘Number of students screened’. Data for the ‘Number of students screened’ using LFTs are not included or available.

For the weeks up to and including 16-22 November, the pooled screening programme operated at reduced scale. From 23 November, all participating students in College accommodation were screened weekly. From 30 November, the programme was further expanded to include students living in private accommodation. The programme was paused between 7 December and 17 January and from 12 July.

* Between 7 December and 17 January, students were screened individually (when leaving or arriving in Cambridge).

** Between 21 June and 11 July 2021, in addition to the pooled screening programme, many students were screened individually (including students with positive LFTs, or for enhanced contact tracing). Because these students are not a representative sample, the overall incidence in all students may be lower than the positivity rate.

*** From 12 July 2021, students were screened individually (including students with positive LFTs, or for enhanced contact tracing). The positivity rate among these students is not indicative of the overall incidence in all students.

Weekly report from the Asymptomatic COVID-19 Screening Programme

Positive cases identified by University symptomatic testing

Week Number of tests (students and staff) Number of confirmed positive cases Positivity rate (%)
5-11 October 2020 230 22 10
12-18 October 411 120 29
19-25 October 409 105 26
26 Oct - 1 Nov 290 40 14
2-8 November 242 47 19
9-15 November 398 154 39
16-22 November 188 25 13
23-29 November 92 3 3
30 Nov - 6 Dec 71 9 13
7-13 Dec 69 3 4.3
14 Dec 2020-10 Jan 2021 508 49 10
11-17 Jan 101 11 11
18-24 Jan 93 2 2.2
25-31 Jan 54 2 3.7
1-7 Feb 137 3 2.2
8-14 Feb 88 1 1.1
15-21 Feb 83 3 3.6
22-28 Feb 68 2 2.9
1-7 March 49 1 2.0
8-14 March 50 1 2
15-21 March 53 0 0
22-28 March 97 1 1.0
29 Mar-4 Apr 46 0 0
5-11 April 44 0 0
12-18 April 106 0 0
19-25 April 35 1 2.9
26 Apr-2 May 33 0 0
3-9 May 17 0 0
10-16 May 17 0 0
17-23 May 31 0 0
24-30 May 51 0 0
31 May-6 June 24 0 0
7-13 June 33 0 0
14-20 June 158 13 8.2
21-27 June 208 37 17.8
28 June-4 July 264 46 17.4
5-11 July 125 22 17.6
12-18 July 88 11 12.5
19-25 July 63 3 4.8
26 July - 1 Aug 56 2 3.6
2-8 Aug 80 13 16.3
9-15 Aug 57 9 15.8
16-22 Aug 52 3 5.8
23-29 Aug 33 1 3.0
30 Aug - 5 Sept 27 0 0
6-12 Sept 48 1 2.1
13-19 Sept 64 1 1.6
20-26 Sept 64 2 3.1

 

Weekly reports from the Asymptomatic COVID-19 Screening Programme

Summer vacation 2021

Easter term 2021

Easter Vacation 2021

Lent Term 2021

Michaelmas Term 2020