The Maine CDC has opened investigations at Colby College in Waterville and the University of Maine System after each reported multiple cases of COVID-19 as students and staff return to campus.
Both institutions have reported five cases of the disease. UMaine’s latest involves a student in the same Orono fraternity house as another who had previously tested positive.
Maine CDC Director Nirav Shah says the investigation is aimed at limiting the spread of the disease at both campuses.
“For both situations, the purpose of these public health investigations is to determine what linkages may exist between and among these cases. And, most importantly, prevent single-digit case numbers from turning into double-digit situations,” he says.
Colby College is planning to test every student multiple times each week to monitor the virus.
So far, the University of Maine system has tested nearly 1,400 students and staff, including all out-of-state students, those in residence halls and select others as they return to their campuses beginning this week.
The system is testing about 20 percent of its on-campus communities every 10 days over the course of the semester.
