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
- Week 9 (21-27 June 2021)
- Week 8 (14-20 June 2021)
- Week 7 (7-13 June 2021)
- Week 6 (31 May - 6 June 2021)
- Week 5 (24-30 May 2021)
- Week 4 (17-23 May 2021)
- Week 3 (10-16 May 2021)
- Week 2 (3-9 May 2021)
- Week 1 (26 Apr-2 May 2021)
Easter Vacation 2021
- Easter Vacation Week 5 (19-25 Apr 2021)
- Easter Vacation Week 4 (12-18 Apr 2021)
- Easter Vacation Week 3 (5-11 Apr 2021)
- Easter Vacation Week 2 (29 Mar-4 Apr 2021)
- Easter Vacation Week 1 (22-28 Mar 2021)
Lent Term 2021
- Week 9 (15-21 Mar 2021)
- Week 8 (8-14 Mar 2021)
- Week 7 (1-7 Mar 2021)
- Week 6 (22-28 Feb 2021)
- Week 5 (15-21 Feb 2021)
- Week 4 (8-14 Feb 2021)
- Week 3 (1-7 Feb 2021)
- Week 2 (25-31 Jan 2021)
- Week 1 (18-24 Jan 2021)
- Start of term tests (11-17 Jan 2021)