35 Mercer students test positive for coronavirus before fall classes begin

More than 30 Mercer University students on the Macon campus have tested positive for COVID-19 two weeks before fall classes are set to begin.

In all, 35 students tested positive out of 316 tests administered from Friday to Monday, including 29 student athletes, the university announced Wednesday.

“The 35 positive students are being cared for and will remain in isolation until being cleared by Mercer Medicine,” a university news release said.

Most are asymptomatic, while some have mild symptoms of COVID-19, the release said.

“Close contacts are being notified and advised to monitor for and report any symptoms to the Student Health Center, as well as being offered the option of receiving a COVID-19 test,” the release said.

Before classes start Aug. 18, all incoming and returning residential undergraduate students on the Macon campus must be tested before moving into student housing or starting classes, according to the release.

All other Mercer students, as well as faculty and staff, are required to complete a COVID-19 screening survey prior to the start of fall classes. Some students have expressed concerns about resuming in-person classes.

An on-campus processing lab returns most results within one to two business. The testing program is part of the university’s COVID-19 plan.

“Mercer will continue to execute and adapt its plan for mitigating the spread of coronavirus on its campuses in consultation with infectious disease experts in its School of Medicine and in accordance with federal, state and local public health guidelines,” the release said.

This story was originally published August 5, 2020 at 3:43 PM.