MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Officials from WVU say a resident of the Evansdale Residential Complex, more commonly referred to as the Towers, has tested positive for COVID-19 and is in isolation.
WVU Dean of Students Corey Farris said the student had permission to stay on campus during the pandemic shutdown.
“Some international students, students that don’t have a safe place to go at home, parents of students who are in the military and overseas,” Farris said on MetroNews “Talkline” Monday. “We have a handful of students we permitted to stay on a case-by-case basis.”
Farris said residents are required to remain in self-quarantine until they are tested for COVID-19 and the test results are known. That testing started Monday.
“We notified all the students last night in the four towers about the positive test result and that we were going to test them today,” Farris said.
WVU Dean of Students Corey Farris joins @HoppyKercheval to discuss a student at Towers dormitories who has tested positive for COVID-19. WATCH: https://t.co/wkudfIRZCB pic.twitter.com/jwvOrTQ602
— MetroNews (@WVMetroNews) April 13, 2020
The Evansdale Café, as well as all community restrooms and gathering areas in the Evansdale Residential Complex, have gone through or are undergoing a deep cleaning.
Farris said each student will get a care package with a mask, gloves and cleaning supplies will be delivered to each resident’s room. Meal deliveries also will be arranged for residents.
“Those students will be staying in their rooms for the entire time, we’re providing them masks and gloves,” Farris said. “All of those students are in individual rooms, so they’re not sharing rooms, roommates or anything like that.”
The Monongalia County Health Department (MCHD)is contact tracing to alert anyone who may have been in close contact with the individual in recent days.
People that are symptomatic should call first before seeking medical care. Students with health questions or concerns should contact WVU Medicine Student Health at 304-285-7200. The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources established a hotline to address questions and concerns. Operators are available 24/7, toll-free at 800-887-4304. WVU Medicine Urgent Care is also offering virtual video visits at no cost.
Farris said employees will be required to quarantine after the test is conducted, and will be given guidance after the results are available.
Other questions may be directed to the MCHD at 304-598-5100 or email coronavirus@mail.wvu.edu.