Coronavirus case confirmed on CMU campus, university announces
Two Central Michigan University students have tested positive for coronavirus, according to an email from President Bob Davies.
One of the two cases was confirmed on CMU’s campus. That student traveled out-of-state for spring break and returned to their campus residence hall, according to an email sent March 26 to students and staff. This student is now being isolated and will return to their hometown tomorrow, according to Heather Smith, director of Communications.
The student on campus is not currently seeking hospital care, Smith said. The university learned of the confirmed cases this afternoon.
The other student is at home. That student did not return to campus after spring break. Many details regarding both student's identities were not available due to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act and Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, both federal laws which prevent the disclosure of personal information.
CMU is contacting anyone who may have had interacted with the student. The email provided specific direction to students and employees on campus, especially those working or living in the Towers or Beddow Hall:
- Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer if soap and water is unavailable.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick, and put distance between yourself and other people.
“We wish both students a full and speedy recovery,” Davies stated in the email. “We are committed to doing all we can to support these students and our community through this difficult time and to slowing the spread of the coronavirus and flattening the curve.”
More than 500 more cases of coronavirus were confirmed today, pushing the total of cases in Michigan to 2,856 and 60 deaths, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
There are now 68,440 confirmed cases in the United States, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
The first case in Isabella County was confirmed on March 23.
Central Michigan University shifted to online learning for the rest of the semester on March 19. The same day, it was announced that spring commencement will be postponed.
After Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed the “Stay Home, Stay Safe” executive order that took effect March 24, all non-essential staff members are now working remotely.
Here is a link to the full announcement: https://www.cmich.edu/Pages/Alerts.aspx#Alert-9634
