Carnegie Mellon University

COVID-19 Updates

Information and resources for the CMU community

Scotty with mask and vaccination bandaid
November 06, 2020

COVID-19 Cluster Identified

Dear Members of the CMU Community,

Earlier this week a CMU student living off campus experiencing COVID symptoms tested positive for COVID, and we have now discovered a cluster of COVID cases among a group of students that were identified through contact tracing and further testing. CMU defines a COVID cluster as: two or more cases outside of a household, confirmed/probable, linked to same location or origin of exposure. The cluster appears to be confined to a close group of housemates and friends none of whom have been on campus. They are now in isolation and receiving appropriate support and medical care. Please know that as we continue our asymptomatic testing of students, we have not identified any new cases.

As this is the largest cluster identified among students to date, we share the news to be transparent about the presence of COVID in our community. We share it also as a stark reminder that we must keep up our vigilance in mitigating the spread of COVID through physical distancing, wearing facial coverings, washing hands, and continuing the daily self-assessment for any symptoms. This news supports the conclusion of public health experts, in Allegheny County and across the country, that informal gatherings of family and friends are currently the most common transmission points for COVID. As you prepare for the holidays, please keep up the great work you’ve been doing all semester to stop the spread of COVID and keep our community healthy.

Sincerely,

Daryl Weinert
Chief of Staff and Vice President for Strategic Initiatives
COVID-19 Coordinator