By DONOVAN HARRELL
The University of Pittsburgh tested roughly 75 percent of Litchfield Tower B residents after the COVID-19 Medical Response Unit noticed an increase in cases in the building with nine new cases being reported between Sept. 23 and Oct. 2.
However, no new cases have been discovered since the testing occurred earlier this week, University spokesman Pat McMahon said in an email on Oct. 7.
This announcement came after the University placed residents on three floors of Litchfield Tower B in quarantine and issued a shelter-in-place order for the other residents in the building. The quarantine and shelter-in-place order has since been lifted, McMahon added.
“While this is good news, it also highlights the importance of quick action and ongoing vigilance,” McMahon said.
In the previous update on Oct. 6, the office announced that six students tested positive for the COVID-19 since Oct. 2, and 14 student cases are active in isolation. Pitt-Johnstown has four new student cases.
In the Oct. 2 update, the office found that six students had tested positive for the virus since the Sept. 29 update with 39 cases active in isolation. Pitt-Bradford had two positive student cases, and Pitt-Greensburg had two new student cases and one faculty or staff case.
The office also said it is exploring ways to increase the testing frequency at the regional campuses. For information on previous COVID-19 updates, see the U-Times story from the last edition.
Donovan Harrell is a writer for the University Times. Reach him at dharrell@pitt.edu or 412-383-9905.
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