Virus that causes COVID-19 found during wastewater test at two UNCC dorms

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Students at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte are having to stay inside their dorms after the virus that causes COVID-19 was detected in the wastewater at two residence halls.

School officials sent out a Niner Alert Monday evening saying the university’s wastewater testing detected the presence of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in its routine sampling at two residence halls.

NinerNotice: Wastewater testing has detected the presence of the virus that causes COVID-19 in routine sampling in two residence halls. All residents are required to remain in the building until they can be tested for COVID-19 tomorrow. More info: https://t.co/VoMXEctSnx pic.twitter.com/TrF0f9OUQo
— UNCC OEM (@NinerAlerts) November 16, 2020

School leaders said they would not identify the dorms, citing privacy reasons for those who live there, but all residents of the building and staff have been notified.

UNCC officials said, per established protocols, everyone in the dorm is required to stay in the building until they can be tested for COVID-19 on Tuesday.

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During this time, all residents of the dorm are required to stay in place except to pick up to-go meals, accept meal delivery and attend medical appointments.

Officials said no other residence halls have been affected.

This is the second NinerNotice about the virus being found in the wastewater at residence halls this month. Another notice was sent out on Nov. 11.

The next day, school officials said the University had completed 85% of the necessary COVID-19 tests of students and staff in the impacted area and the positivity rate was less than 1%. No clusters were found.

New from UNCC https://t.co/fkM2ncuQ3A
— Michael Stolp (@StolpWSOC9) November 11, 2020

In early October, the school detected the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater at Holshouser dorm and followed the same protocol.

Students who live in the dorm remained under this directive until their test results were returned approximately 24 hours after their tests.

The school said that anyone testing positive or identified as a close contact of anyone who tests positive “will be placed in quarantine/isolation in accordance with the university’s on-campus quarantine/isolation protocols.”

In an effort to further protect the campus community, UNCC is using wastewater testing because studies have indicated it can identify the presence of SARS-CoV-2 days before symptoms appear, the school said.