Miami University Coronavirus Update

Miami’s Institutional Response Team (IRT) and public health officials, including the Butler County Health District and the Ohio Department of Health, continue to await the results of two samples sent earlier this week to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). No additional suspected cases have emerged from Miami University, Butler County, or the State of Ohio.

We know many people are anxiously awaiting the results of the tests. The Ohio Department of Health sent the test samples to the CDC on Tuesday, January 28. The samples were received by the CDC the next morning and placed in the queue for testing. We know it takes 48 hours for the lab to grow the cultures necessary for testing, and that we are among a number of pending requests, as testing can presently only be performed by the CDC’s public health lab. While we had hoped to receive the results by today, the Butler County Health Commissioner indicated to us that given the late hour this is now unlikely.

When the tests are complete, the CDC will deliver the results first to the Ohio Department of Health and the Butler County Health District, who will contact the students who have been isolated since Monday. Following the students’ notification, Miami University, the Butler County Health District, and the Ohio Department of Health will promptly hold a joint news conference to share the results.

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