The University of Pittsburgh is investigating an increase in covid-19 cases in Litchfield Tower B, a residence hall in Oakland.
Between Sept. 23 and Oct. 2, nine cases were reported in the building, said Pat McMahon, a university spokesman. McMahon told The Pitt News the university is still investigating whether the cases are linked.
Tower B was briefly mentioned in a regular data update on Friday by Pitt’s Covid-19 Medical Response Office.
“We are proceeding with mitigation, testing and containment strategies — but we cannot test or investigate our way out of this pandemic,” an email said. “At this critical juncture, we have to be especially vigilant over the weekend.”
Three floors of Litchfield Tower B are now in quarantine, McMahon said — about 60 students. All students in the dorm will be tested for covid-19; testing began Monday morning at 9 a.m., he said. There are 360 students living in Tower B.
Students in quarantine are not to leave their rooms except to use the bathroom, get tested or for medical emergencies. Meals are being delivered. McMahon said the length of quarantine for any student is dependent on Monday’s test results, which will be reported this week by the Covid-19 Medical Response Office.
“These immediate actions are an example of our system working as we hoped,” McMahon said. “We were able to respond quickly to these cases and take targeted mitigation and containment efforts, which we think will help us avert a larger issue.”
Litchfield Tower B is Pitt’s largest residence hall, with 22 floors of mostly first-year students.
The university reported 24 new cases between Sept. 25 and Oct. 2 — two fewer than what was reported the week before. The rate of infection also declined since early September, and officials have credited students for adhering to health and safety guidelines.
