(Photo from CDC).
This morning, SUNY Cortland director of public relations Frederic Pierce sent out an email to all SUNY Cortland students, faculty, and staff members informing them about an on-campus student who tested for COVID-19.
Here is the email that was sent:
SUNY Cortland students, faculty and staff
We learned Tuesday that an on-campus student was tested for COVID-19 after being notified that they may have been exposed to the virus before they came to Cortland. The test was done in a nearby county and the details are not yet fully known. We were able to verify, however, that the student traveled directly home with their family after testing and is in isolation.
We informed the Cortland County Health Department about this development and, in consultation with them, acted quickly to quarantine any potential close contacts in advance of the formal contact tracing process. Those in the Cortland community who may have come into close contact with positive cases will be notified directly by the local health department and given further instructions to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.
SUNY Cortland, like all universities, expected that we would likely experience cases of the virus this fall, which is why we worked with public health officials to implement screening, monitoring, quarantine and isolation measures. To keep these cases from spreading, it is imperative that members of our community avoid gathering in large groups, maintain proper social distancing and wear face coverings.Students and staff are also reminded to perform the daily COVID screening tool and follow the directions provided.
Further information regarding COVID-19 planning on campus can be found on SUNY Cortland’s Fall 2020 Campus Guide. Additionally, the Cortland County Health Department has a number of useful and informative links. For more detailed information regarding coronavirus please see the NY State Department of Health website and the Centers for Disease Control resources on COVID-19.
