CORONAVIRUS CONFIRMED IN PITT COUNTY

Emergency Notification: 

On March 19, the Pitt County Health Department confirmed a positive test for the coronavirus in Pitt County. This individual visited an ECU Physician’s clinic for treatment. As a result, and in compliance with requirements of the Clery Act, East Carolina University provides this emergency notification to our campus community. For additional information about COVID-19 and steps that ECU is taking to protect the health and safety of our community, please visit the university’s coronavirus website.

The Pitt County Health Department is the lead agency in communication for presumptive and confirmed positive cases. The university will coordinate with them to ensure that notifications are made to anyone who may have come in contact with the patient. With increased testing, it is likely the number of confirmed cases will increase in the region.

ECU nor public health authorities will identify any individual patient and we will not provide information that may compromise their confidentiality. While these steps are outlined in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), it is also a matter of personal safety because individuals can become targeted, threatened or harassed should this information be shared.

ECU officials understand this news is concerning and want to assure you that reasonable precautions are being taken to ensure the health and well-being of our campus community. This is a rapidly changing situation, so continue to check the ECU coronavirus information page for the latest updates and travel restrictions related to ECU and links to the CDC and Department of State sites.

Campus leaders are monitoring the changing situation daily.

As reported by the CDC, most who experience this illness will have mild flu-like symptoms. The greatest concern is for those who have underlying health issues and the elderly.

Please continue to take the following precautions:

• Avoid contact with persons who are sick.
• Practice social distancing of at least six feet.
• Frequently clean hands with soap and water or alcohol-based sanitizer.
• Cover your cough and sneezes (into your flexed elbow or tissue) and wash your hands immediately.