NewsCoronavirus/COVID-19Appalachian State

New confirmed cases of COVID-19 at Appalachian State

Last Updated on September 17, 2020 9:33 pm

“Appalachian State University and Appalachian District Health Department (AppHealthCare) are working closely together to investigate and respond to an active cluster of confirmed COVID-19 associated with App State’s Thunder Hill Residence Hall. A cluster is defined by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services as a minimum of five cases with illness onsets or initial positive results within a 14-day period and plausible epidemiologic linkage between cases.” That's the beginning of a statement sent to students, faculty and staff on Thursday late afternoon.

The statement went on to say, “Currently, there are seven student residents of Thunder Hill who have tested positive within the past 14 days. Two are recovering in active isolation and five are past the isolation stage. The students are being provided support by the university.”

“The cluster of cases was identified and confirmed by App State and AppHealthCare based on the number of cases identified within 14 days and all individuals having a common link with the residence hall. Individuals were tested at a variety of locations in the past 14 days.”, the statement went on to say.

“Public health staff have identified and reached out to all identified close contacts of those who have tested positive. A close contact is defined as someone who has been within 6 feet of an infected person for more than 15 minutes.”

The remainder of the statement went on to say, “AppHealthCare has been working closely with App State throughout the COVID-19 response, and continues to provide public health recommendations and guidance for infection prevention and virus transmission. With this active cluster of cases, AppHealthCare will closely monitor the active cases and conduct response testing in coordination with App State.  If you are a resident of Thunder Hill, public health staff highly encourages you to be tested.

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