Patterns and Variability in COVID-19 Cases at Georgia Southern University: A Comparative Analysis Across Campuses and Time

This study analyzes COVID-19 case data from Georgia Southern University across a monitoring period spanning 1,068 days, from August 17, 2020, to May 15, 2022. A total of 5,426 cases were reported during this time, with the highest peak occurring on Thursday, August 27, 2020, aligning with the initial weeks of the Fall 2020 semester. Case counts varied by campus, with the Statesboro campus reporting the majority of cases (4,456), followed by Armstrong in Savannah (913) and Liberty near Fort Stewart (70). Self-reported cases exceeded those confirmed by the university’s health services, often with a lag in confirmation, highlighting the reliance on self-reporting among students and staff.

Distinct temporal patterns emerged, showing sharp case increases at the start of each new semester, with declines over the course of each term. Breaks such as Thanksgiving and Spring Break did not correspond with post-return case spikes, contrasting with anticipated patterns. Comparison with statewide COVID-19 waves shows partial alignment; cases at Georgia Southern mirrored state trends in Spring 2021 and Fall 2021 but diverged notably in Fall 2020 and Spring 2022, indicating that university sub-populations experienced unique patterns of transmission. Increased transmissibility of COVID-19 variants is reflected in the elevated case counts in Spring 2022 compared to previous semesters. These findings illustrate the importance of analyzing localized patterns within sub-populations, which may differ from broader community trends.