At least 171 students living in the Greek Row at the University of Washington test positive for COVID-19 and hundreds of results are still pending “after the fraternities organized dozens of parties without masks.”
- At least 171 students living on Greek Row at the University of Washington in Seattle have tested positive for COVID-19 as of Thursday.
- The university first discovered that three fraternity residents had symptoms on Saturday.
- For Thursday, UW reported that 66 students tested positive for the virus
- The Inter-Fraternity Council said that at least 105 students living in 15 fraternity houses reported that they tested positive for the virus.
- University spokeswoman Michelle Ma said more than 800 students have been evaluated since Monday and that the IFC asked fraternities to stop social events.
At least 171 students living in or near fraternity houses at the University of Washington in Seattle have tested positive for the virus, with hundreds of test results still pending.
The university first learned Saturday that three fraternity residents had symptoms of COVID-19.
By Thursday, the university reported that at least 66 students tested positive for the virus: 62 were residents of fraternity houses and four were close contacts of the residents but lived elsewhere.
The Interfraternity Council, a student-led government board, reported that at least 105 students living in 15 fraternity houses reported that they tested positive for the virus. The university is still verifying the status of these cases.
The Greek Row outbreak comes when public health officials in Seattle noticed an increase in cases among youth ages 18-20.
The Inter-Fraternity Council asked fraternity houses to stop holding social events after the outbreak.
At least 171 students living in or near fraternity houses at the University of Washington in Seattle have tested positive for the virus, with hundreds of test results still pending. A file image of students on the University of Washington campus above
A view of a fraternity house at the University of Washington above. There are currently 1,000 students living in 25 fraternity houses on the north side of the Seattle campus
University spokeswoman Michelle Ma said more than 800 students have been evaluated since Monday in response to the outbreak that shook the Greek community on campus.
There are currently 1,000 students living in 25 fraternity houses on the north side of the Seattle campus. Residents of those houses are asked to quarantine or isolate themselves.
The university says it will have an updated case early next week.
UW Medicine has established a testing center on campus within walking distance of Greek houses.
Daniel Leifer, a pediatrician studying dermatology at the University of Washington, said he saw a dozen parties while walking down Greek Row in recent months. He reported seeing students standing together, unmasked and ignoring coronavirus precautions.
Nurses wait for a patient to arrive for a COVID-19 exam at a prior consultation clinic established by the Northwestern Ambulatory Medical Center of the University of Washington Medical Center on March 17
“ While we were pleased to see that most houses had taken steps to reduce resident capacity by as much as 50% this summer in response to COVID-19, those steps are not enough without daily and vigilant preventive measures, such as the use of face covers, physical distancing and hand hygiene, “said Dr. Geoffrey Gottlieb, chairman of the UW Communicable Diseases Advisory Committee, in response to the outbreak.
Health experts now say the outbreak, along with an increase in cases among student-athletes, could be a warning story of what could happen if universities reopen in the fall.
The University of Washington said this week that they hope to reopen classes in person, but the biggest lessons will take place virtually. But those reopening plans could change due to the spread.
The University of Washington and Public Health, and Seattle and King counties are responding to the group of cases and their recent contacts.
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