Students and staff receive email detailing recent infection

BY ALEXA TIRONI, ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

The Fairfax local health department is conducting an investigation to determine whether the Mason community should seek further precaution after the university was made aware Thursday night that an Arlington campus student tested positive for the COVID-19 virus.

Mason’s department of Safety, Emergency & Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) sent an email to the university Friday, stating, “The student does not reside on campus, and to our knowledge, the last time that this student was on the Arlington campus was on March 4.” 

The email continued, “Given these precautions and what we know about the situation, the risk of exposure to other students, faculty, and staff who visited the Arlington campus remains low.” 

“Individuals who were at risk of exposure will be contacted directly and provided specific guidance,” ERM wrote. 

The email stated that the university’s actions are consistent with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Virginia Department of Health guidelines. If students have further concerns, they can contact the Environmental Health and Safety Office. 

Later Friday evening, the Mason community received an email from the Office of the President offering prayers and support to the student dealing with the virus. 

“We expect more of our community will test positive for COVID-19 in the coming days and weeks,” Interim President Anne Holton wrote in the email. 

The email stated that rather than sending individual messages for any more cases from the Mason community, the university’s communications team will add a link to the university’s coronavirus web page listing the number of cases.