WESTFIELD – Westfield State University’s Davis Hall residents are under quarantine after 31 students across campus tested positive for COVID-19 in one week as of Monday, March 15.
The quarantine started March 12 when four residents of the building tested positive.
In a letter to the Westfield State community March 11, Interim President Dr. Roy S. Saigo said that there were 16 total positive cases detected in last week’s round of tests, but 12 of them were commuter students who do not live on campus. Late in the evening of Sunday, March 14, an additional 15 students were confirmed to have tested positive, bringing the weekly total to 31 students. This is the highest number of positive cases reported at Westfield State since the beginning of the semester.
Westfield State has not yet specified how many of the 15 additional cases were commuter or residential students, or how many are residents of Davis Hall.
“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 Saigo in the letter.
Saigo’s concerns were founded when the additional students tested positive over the weekend.
Davis Hall officially began its quarantine period on March 12 at 7 a.m. All residents of the building were required to get tested Monday.
“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 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.”
