This story is ongoing. There have been 15 additional positive cases reported by Westfield State since Friday, March 12.
WESTFIELD- Westfield State students living in Davis Hall were instructed to quarantine March 11 after the most recent round of COVID-19 tests on campus showed that four residents of the building tested positive.
In a letter to the Westfield State community Thursday, Interim President Dr. Roy S. Saigo said that there were 16 total positive cases detected in this round of tests, but 12 of them were commuter students who do not live on campus.
“Although this amount of positive results does not meet the threshold identified in the University’s curtailment plan, we believe that the cluster of cases in Davis Hall requires immediate attention and that these actions will mitigate further spread,” said Dr. Saigo in the letter.
Davis Hall officially began its quarantine period on Friday, March 12 at 7 a.m.. All residents of the building will be required to get tested for COVID-19 on Monday, March 15. Once the results of that round of tests are known, quarantine will be lifted if there are no further concerns of spread within the building.
“Any Davis Hall resident who does not participate in March 15 testing will NOT be allowed to return to their campus room until after participating in the COVID-19 testing on Thursday, March 18, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., in University Hall,” said Dr. Saigo, later saying in the letter, “For all other students, as well as faculty and staff, please let this notice serve as a reminder to remain vigilant with your adherence to the safety protocols of mask-wearing, hand-washing, and social-distancing, both on and off campus and to continue to limit your activity to campus only.”
On Monday, there were 15 additional positive cases.
