Marymount University Reports First Coronavirus Outbreak

Michael O'Connell
Updated ·4 min read

ARLINGTON, VA — Marymount University confirmed the first outbreak of COVID-19, the illness associated with the new coronavirus, at a college or university in Arlington. Virginia Health Department defines an outbreak as two or more cases that are connected.

"Initially, cases were identified over Columbus Day weekend and we’ve seen a decline in the total number of cases since October 21," said Nicholas Munson, Marymount's communications and public relations manager. "To date over the more than two-week period, 31 students have tested positive."

There are 4,500 students, faculty, and staff in the Marymount community, according to Munson.

"We've worked to identify the clusters that have tested positive, and have quickly isolated and quarantined all cases," he said. "We also decided to partner with the Arlington County Public Health Department to monitor cases and manage contact tracing, as well as perform a targeted testing strategy on campus to identify any unrecognized asymptomatic COVID-positive individuals."

VDH confirmed Tuesday there have been 25 outbreaks of COVID-19 in the Arlington Health District. That's up from the 20 previously reported. There have been 18 outbreaks at long-term care facilities, three at a congregate setting, three in health care settings, and, as of Tuesday, one at a college or a university.

Back in March, George Mason University reported that a student at its Arlington campus had tested positive for COVID-19, but that incident was not considered an outbreak because it was not related to another case on campus.

The total number of cases connected with an outbreak is 647, which is up from the 589 previously reported. There have been 228 reported coronavirus cases in Arlington involving health care workers.

VDH confirmed 24 new cases Tuesday of COVID-19, in the Arlington Health District. That's down slightly from the the 25 reported on Monday. The total number of COVID-19 cases in Arlington stands at 4,586.

Virginia health officials also reported no new deaths due to COVID-19 Tuesday in Arlington. The last new death was reported on Saturday. The total number of COVID-19-related deaths in the Arlington Health District now stands at 154.

A total of 536 people have been hospitalized in Arlington due to COVID-19.

VDH confirmed 25 outbreaks of COVID-19 in the Arlington Health District, which is up from the 20 previously reported There have been 15 outbreaks at long-term care facilities, two outbreaks at a congregate setting and three outbreaks in health care settings. The total number of cases connected with an outbreak stands at 647, which is up from the 589 previously reported. There have been 228 reported coronavirus cases in Arlington involving health care workers.

There have been 175,409 total cases statewide, according to data reported by the Virginia Department of Health. In Virginia, there have been 3,600 coronavirus-related deaths to date. There have been a total of 12,320 hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

VDH reported Monday that 81,533 COVID-19 tests have been taken in Arlington, with a 3.7 percent positivity rate. Statewide there have been 2,740,118 COVID-19 tests taken, with a 5.8 percent positivity rate, according to VDH.

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Globally, more than 43.6 million people have been infected by COVID-19, and over 1.1 million people have died, Johns Hopkins University reported Tuesday morning. In the United States, more than 8.7 million people have been infected and over 225,000 people have died from COVID-19.

VDH breaks down the number of cases and deaths in Arlington by age, race and ethnicity. The breakdown by age is as follows:

(VDH)
(VDH)

Arlington residents should take the following actions to help prevent the spread of COVID-19:

  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

  • Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. An alcohol-based hand sanitizer can be used if soap and water are not available.

  • Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.

  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.

  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

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This article originally appeared on the Arlington Patch