Aquinas Hall Testing and Quarantine  

We are writing to let you know about actions the University is taking in alignment with its state-approved Restart Plan protocols and two newly-confirmed cases in Aquinas Hall.

Through its testing protocols, Health Services identified two second floor Aquinas Hall students who tested positive for COVID-19. Both students have returned home to quarantine. The two cases are unrelated.

As a precautionary measure, Health Services will immediately begin to test all second-floor residents of Aquinas Hall. Students have been directly contacted by Housing and Residence Life with testing and quarantine instructions. Following testing, those students will return to their residence hall rooms. The entire Aquinas Hall second floor will be under quarantine until the test results are received. The results are expected within 48-72 hours.

Students in quarantine will be provided meals and other support services. Additionally, the laundry room will be closed and thoroughly cleaned and disinfected, as it is the only common area currently open. It will be reopened after the quarantine concludes.

We have all seen reports about a resurgence of COVID-19 throughout the state and the nation; Governor Murphy is expected to announce additional restrictions later today.

The university's mitigation actions regarding these two cases are designed to prevent further spread and are in concert with the Restart Plan. The University continues to provide surveillance testing to students and will begin its pre-Thanksgiving testing protocol, available to all students tomorrow, as announced in last week's HICT communication. Please contact the HICT if you have questions.

Sincerely,

Shawna Cooper-Gibson, Ed.D.
Vice President of Student Services

Matthew Borowick '89/MBA '94
Vice President of University Relations

Co-chairs, Health Intervention and Communication Team

Categories: Campus Life, Health and Medicine