Monday, October 12, 2020

UNCW has identified one cluster of seven (7) individuals involving the UNCW swimming and diving team. A “cluster” is defined by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services as five or more cases that are considered in close proximity by location in the last 14 days. 

The individuals involved in this cluster have been and/or are isolating and have been receiving medical monitoring and/or treatment as needed. To protect individuals’ private health information, UNCW will not publicly name employees or students diagnosed with COVID-19. The university shares general information about confirmed cases on its data dashboard. 

The university has informed the New Hanover County Health Department, and contact tracing has been initiated with direct communication to anyone determined to have been in close contact with a COVID-19-positive individual. A close contact is defined as someone who has been within 6 feet of an infected person for more than 15 minutes when either person has not been wearing a face covering. Those identified as a close contact will be notified directly and provided with further guidance. 

We are notifying the campus of this cluster per guidance under the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act, which establishes requirements about health and safety information that universities must share with their campuses. 

Students with COVID-19 symptoms (i.e., fever, shortness of breath, muscle aches, a cough, nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, etc.) should notify the UNCW Student Health Center at 910.962.0587 or coronavirus@uncw.edu. Employees should contact your healthcare provider (let them know you have symptoms when making an appointment), notify your supervisor and then notify the UNCW Student Health Center at 910.962.0587 or coronavirus@uncw.edu.  

As outlined in our Best for the Nest guidelines, UNCW is committed to a culture of personal responsibility for community health and safety. We believe that no member of our campus community should be put at undue risk or be put in a situation in which they need to choose between participating as a member of our campus community and their personal or family’s health. Every member of our community must do their part. This means adhering to national, state, local and campus health guidelines and requirements for face coverings, physical distancing and gatherings and events.