This story was updated at 4:35 p.m. March 20.
An IU student who lives off campus has tested positive for the coronavirus, according to a Friday release from the Monroe County Health Department. The student has been in isolation off campus since March 13, the release said.
The health department is working to determine who came into contact with the student and could be affected.
This is the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in Monroe County, said Penny Caudill, Monroe County Health Department administrator.
The student was tested March 13 at the IU Health Center, said Beth Rupp, IU Health Center medical director. The center received a positive test result Friday from LabCorp, a clinical laboratory. Rupp said the IU Health Center had tested 12 students as of 3:30 p.m. Friday.
Rupp and Caudill said they won’t release age, sex or other information because they don’t want the student to be identified. Rupp said the patient is doing well and has only experienced mild symptoms.
Community members still need to practice social distancing and preventive measures such as avoiding large gatherings and continuing to wash their hands properly, Caudill said.
She said many people think the government is overreacting, but that’s not true.
“We are in a pandemic,” Caudill said.
