A cluster of positive cases in a UNC residence hall has been reported for the first time in several months.

An alert from UNC shared Wednesday afternoon said a group of students who lived in Carmichael Residence Hall over winter break have tested positive for the coronavirus. According to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, a “cluster” is defined by a collection of five or more cases.

According to the university, the individuals in this cluster have been identified, are isolating and receiving medical monitoring. The Orange County Health Department is also working with UNC to record the cases and identify additional potential exposures. Additionally, Wednesday’s alert said people identified as close contacts to this cluster have since been identified, have been tested and moved to isolation.

Wednesday is the first day UNC students can begin to return to campus to live in single-occupancy rooms in residence halls for the spring semester. The university announced earlier in January the semester would begin with three weeks of remote learning before planning to resume limited in-person classes for an estimated 3,500 students who have the opportunity to return to the Chapel Hill campus.

During the beginning of the fall semester, UNC saw more than a dozen clusters reported among several residence halls and Greek Life houses. Since February 2020 through the end of the fall semester, UNC has reported 1,446 students and 185 employees as having tested positive on its Carolina Together Dashboard.

 

Photo via Carolina Housing.

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