AMHERST — A custodial staff member at Amherst College tested positive for COVID-19 last week, marking the first confirmed case of the virus on campus.
The staff member received positive results on Wednesday, according to college President Biddy Martin, who announced the case on Thursday. The staff member had not been on campus since April 18, Martin wrote, and was at the time asymptomatic, wearing a face mask, and did not come into contact with students.
The person is now “in isolation at home and doing well,” Martin wrote. Campus police and the staff member’s supervisor reached out to anyone who had contact with the individual, Martin sad, and will self-quarantine for 14 days. None displayed symptoms as of Thursday.
“Despite all of the precautions and actions we have taken, we may learn of other cases within our community,” Martin wrote in the message. “Please continue to take care of yourselves and each other, treat yourself and others with kindness, and continue to safeguard the wellbeing of all with whom you interact.”
Jacquelyn Voghel can be reached at jvoghel@gazettenet.com.