Winthrop interim president: Student tests positive for coronavirus.
Winthrop University Interim President George Hynd Monday night informed people associated with the school that a student had tested positive for coronavirus.
The statement released by Hynd stated: “a resident student who stopped by a Winthrop residence hall on March 17 to pick up belongings during spring break has tested positive for COVID-19. This student followed the protocol of the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control and upon showing symptoms of the virus, sought medical advice and testing where s/he permanently resides.
“While the resident was on campus for only a short time, precautions have been taken in the hall to sanitize shared space and frequently touched surfaces. These preventive measures will minimize the risk posed to other residents and the campus community. Others who may have come into close contact with the individual who tested positive are being notified of possible exposure.”
Winthrop did not learn of the positive case from the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control, said Judy Longshaw, spokesperson for the university. The case was diagnosed out of state and the person reported it to the school.
“All potentially impacted parties were notified as soon as we received information,” Longshaw said in an e-mail to The Herald Tuesday evening.
“If S.C. DHEC receives any positive test results of members of our local Winthrop community, such results would be included in their regular notification,” reads the e-mail.
Hynd’s announcement came hours after DHEC officials announced that Chester now has it’s first case. York and Lancaster counties now each have seven cases.
In a release Monday, DHEC officials said they are investigating the Winthrop case.
On Monday, health officials reported 103 new cases of coronavirus, bringing the statewide total to 298 confirmed COVID-19 cases in 34 counties. Officials also announced that as of Monday five people — in Charleston, Clarendon, Florence, Kershaw and Lexington counties — had died after contracting the virus.
Chester, Georgetown and Oconee counties reported its first cases, while Kershaw and Richland counties continue to rank highest in the state for positive cases.
In Monday night’s release, Hynd wrote that “This student is receiving the full support of the university during this difficult time. It is important to note that our Winthrop community will likely continue to be directly and indirectly impacted by this unprecedented public health crisis in coming days and weeks...”
Longshaw’s e-mail states: “Winthrop does not intend to publicly announce each individual case involving members of the Winthrop community.”
Winthrop University has closed its campus and moved classes to remote instruction for the rest of the semester, The Herald previously reported. Spring commencement ceremonies have been postponed.
More information is available on Winthrop’s website, on the coronavirus page.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
This story was originally published March 23, 2020 at 10:56 PM.
