Survey: UGA Has 3rd Most COVID-19 Cases Among Top Universities

ATHENS, GA — The University of Georgia ranks near the top for something it doesn’t want: COVID-19 cases.

In an informal survey of hundreds of U.S. colleges published Wednesday by The New York Times, the University of Georgia had 390 confirmed cases of COVID-19 tied to it, ranking it third in the country.

Only schools that reported cases are shown. In at least the case of the University of Georgia, all numbers are cumulative only and do not represent current conditions on the Athens campus.

Only the University of Central Florida and the University of Texas — with 449 cases and 438 cases, respectively — reported positive tests for the coronavirus. All three schools are in states considered to be coronavirus hotspots.

Georgia Tech fared only slightly better, coming in at 14th with 94 confirmed cases.

Other Georgia schools in the top 200 include:

• Georgia Southern University— 40 cases
• Georgia State University — 18 cases;
• University of North Georgia — 11 cases
• Mercer University — 10 cases
• Georgia Gwinnett College — 6 cases
• East Georgia State College — 4 cases
• Georgia Highlands College — 3 cases
• Valdosta State University — 2 cases

A spokesperson for the University of Georgia told Patch that the figure reported by The New York Times "should not be viewed as an accurate barometer of the current status of COVID-19" at UGA's main campus.

“These cases include total positive tests reported to the Health Center since March 2020 from Athens as well as extended campuses, extension offices across the state, and even the hometowns of students across the country, for more than 50,000 faculty, staff and students connected to the University of Georgia," wrote Greg Trevor, interim senior executive director for marketing and communications for the university, in an email forwarded to Patch."This is not a daily count of cases; it is a cumulative total."

Trevor added that it was not unusual for the campus health center to learn of a case in another location weeks after the person had been tested. The numbers do not necessarily include those who have recovered.

According to the Times, the list includes public, four-year universities as well as private colleges that compete in Division I sports. Also included are some of the nation's top research universities.

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