University of Michigan confirms ‘cluster’ of 19 coronavirus cases in South Quad residence
ANN ARBOR, MI – As of September 17, there had been 19 confirmed positive coronavirus cases at the South Quad residence at the University of Michigan, the school announced Thursday.
According to public health community review, the areas with the most cases are the sixth and eighth floors of the building. UM’s Environment, Health and Safety Department and Washtenaw County Health Department are monitoring the situation, which has been identified as a cluster, the advisory said.
“Upon further investigation, the majority of cases were found to be related, but three cases on the sixth floor are unrelated and have no known source of exposure,” the notice said. “While this can happen at any time during a pandemic situation, we are taking additional measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the building. All positive cases and close contacts have been placed in isolation or quarantine. “
The sixth and eighth floor residence is expected to socialize better over the next two weeks, monitor their symptoms, check their temperature, and stay in their room as much as possible, a message to residents of the sixth and eighth floors said.
Residents will also undergo mandatory testing out of caution, the post said.
In a tweet on Thursday, UM said all known positive cases were no longer in the dorm and that testing, tracing and movement of students would continue if necessary.
According to UM’s COVID-19 dashboard, 16 people have tested positive for the virus since September 13, including six students. South Quad has had 13 positive cases since Aug.21, while no other residence in UM has had more than three, according to the dashboard.
The dashboard shows that 12 people are in isolated accommodation – meaning they have a positive test result – and 62 are in quarantine accommodation, meaning they have been exposed or are awaiting the results of the test.
In the past two weeks, the UM has administered 3,827 tests with 67 positive cases, the dashboard says. Just under 15,000 tests have been carried out since March 8, of which 398 have returned positive.
The university, in agreement with the Washtenaw County Department of Health, is taking the following actions:
- Do not socially visit the 6th or 8th floors as they should follow improved social distancing for the next 14 days.
- Continue to monitor your health daily by completing the ResponsiBLUE Symptom Tracker. This is a requirement for all individuals on campus on a daily basis.
- Limit social interactions within the dormitory as well as on campus.
- Sign up for priority tests to be tested through the Community Sampling and Monitoring program at this link.
- Anyone with symptoms, high risk, or known exposure should contact University Health Service (UHS) at 734-764-8320 or complete the online assessment immediately.
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