Tuesday marks the end of the University of Arizona's two-week shelter-in-place recommendation it issued after a spike in COVID-19 cases, mainly among students. The university's most recent COVID-19 testing data shows that things are heading in the right direction, making university officials cautiously optimistic, they said during a Monday press conference. 

The university's daily positivity rate for Friday fell to 3.4%, under the university's 5% target. UA President Robert Robbins is also encouraged by the decline in the number of off-campus gatherings that law enforcement officials are responding.  

“This is not a time to become complacent however," Robbins said. "I continue to see groups of students around the university boulevard and elsewhere without face coverings, and I beg you to please listen and follow the guidelines.” 

Robbins warned students that the shelter-in-place recommendation could be reinstated if case numbers begin to rise again. If cases skyrocket, the university could work with Pima County’s health department to take more serious measures, he said.

Dr. Richard Carmona, who’s leading the re-entry task force, said the university would like to increase its testing but one challenge it's running into is students refusing to get tested because they don’t want to be quarantined. 

"So it may be that we have to start considering mandatory testing for students who come on campus and make it a condition of being a student if this continues." Carmona said. 

The university has implemented mandatory random testing for students living on campus and is looking to start something similar for those living off-campus within the next couple of weeks.