Chancellor: 1 Person Living At UC Davis Campus Being Tested For Coronavirus
DAVIS (CBS13) – UC Davis Chancellor Gary May says, out an abundance of caution, three members of the campus community have been isolated over coronavirus concerns.
The people had been living in Kearney Hall on campus. Two of them are asymptomatic, May says, but the third person is being tested by the CDC for novel coronavirus.
"We understand that there is a great amount of concern, uncertainty and anxiety in the campus community," May wrote in a statement on Thursday. "The safety and wellbeing of our students, faculty and staff are our highest priority."
We understand that there is a great amount of concern, uncertainty & anxiety. The safety & wellbeing of our students, faculty & staff are our highest priority. We are taking all appropriate measures & working closely w/ @CDCgov, @CAPublicHealth & county agencies to coordinate.
— Gary S. May (@Chancellor_May) February 27, 2020
The person undergoing testing is not currently on campus, May said.
"We have no COVID-19 positive individuals on campus. We currently have one student who is a patient under investigation," Dr. Cindy Schorzman, medical director of Student Health and Counseling Services at UC Davis, said during a press conference on Thursday.
All student housing and dining services properties are now undergoing daily disinfection practices as an additional precautionary measure.
But some students and staff still have their own concerns about this latest coronavirus update.
"It just freaks me out how it can spread so easily across the student population. So I hope the campus does something about it," Tajvaeer Pahar said.
May also addressed the person being treated for coronavirus at the UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento, noting that they believe there has been minimal potential for exposure thanks to precautions that have been in place since that patient arrived.
"We do not believe there is any reason for anyone to overreact," May stated. "Any person who is in isolation and asymptomatic is not considered contagious."
No one in Yolo County or UC Davis has tested positive for coronavirus at this point, officials said.
"That in this county, in Yolo County, in the city of Davis, on the UC Davis campus there's no evidence for the spread of the Coronavirus. There's no evidence of the transmission of the virus," Dr. Ron Chapman, Yolo County Health Officer, said.
Classes and campus operations at UC Davis plan to go on as usual.