Troy reports more cases in dorms

Published 6:19 pm Thursday, August 13, 2020

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Pike County reported no new cases of COVID-19 overnight Wednesday, but Troy University has reported two more on-campus student cases.

According to the Alabama Department of Public Health 10 a.m. update on Thursday, Pike County has reported 716 confirmed cases since tracking began, with seven deaths.

Alabama added 695 new cases, bringing the total confirmed to 101,496 with 1,821 confirmed deaths and 41,523 presumed recoveries. The ADPH reports 1,372 current hospitalizations.

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Troy University on Thursday morning self-reported nine new cases among off-campus students, two employee cases and two additional on-campus student cashes: one at Newman 100 and one at Rushing Hall.

“On Wednesday, Aug. 12, Troy University officials were made aware of two confirmed cases involving students who are residents of on-campus residence halls – one from Newman Hall 100 and one from Rushing Hall. The students are currently in quarantine off campus,” the university said in a statement. “One student, who lives in the same suite as one of the students who tested positive, is also quarantining off campus. A second student suitemate has tested negative and has exhibited no symptoms. “

The university reported its first on-campus student case on Tuesday: a student living at Trojan Village 100. University officials said the student was under quarantine off campus and the suitemates were in isolation inside the suite. None of those students had symptoms, officials said at the time.

The university said in a statement that off-site quarantine is being made available for students who test positive. “Resident students requiring isolation or quarantine will be asked to return home for the period required, if at all possible. If this is not possible, Troy University has identified appropriate residential spaces on campus for isolation or quarantine of a student. There are currently no students being quarantined on campus,” the university said.

Troy officials and the university’s Coronavirus Task Force continue to monitor developments related to COVID-19 and urge students, faculty and staff to follow the TROY Strong guidelines.

“We continue to urge all TROY students to take advantage of free COVID-19 testing available to all college students in Alabama through the GuideSafe program. We believe that testing is important, but it’s just one part of multi-layered strategy to slow the spread of coronavirus. Face-coverings, social distancing, and daily monitoring of symptoms are equally important,” the university said.