UPDATE: Positive COVID Cases at Bradley (sent to the Bradley Family on 07/24/2020)

Dear Bradley Community,

This is an update to the email you received overnight regarding multiple positive COVID-19 cases on campus. We are working closely with health officials to address a situation involving positive COVID-19 cases on Bradley’s campus.  

We have confirmed 10 positive cases (as of 2 p.m. Friday, July 24). These current cases involve students, some of whom were involved in our orientation program. However, at this time we do not believe the spread is connected to orientation. Due to privacy and confidentiality, we will not release any other details about who has tested positive at this time. 

Our established protocols, including aggressive contact tracing from an initial case, led us to do more testing immediately. Thursday evening, after 9:30 p.m., we were notified of seven positive tests, as well as two more Friday afternoon. We are still waiting for results from additional tests based on contact tracing from those positive individuals. Contact tracing will continue as we receive the remaining test results.

People who were in close contact with those who tested positive have been contacted and have either already been tested or are scheduled for testing. If you were not notified by Bradley Health Services that you are considered a close contact as listed below, then you are not required to be tested at this time.

• Close contact - If you were identified as someone who was within 6 feet for more than 15 minutes with someone who tested positive for COVID-19, you will receive a phone call and/or text message from Bradley University Health Services. Action will be needed. As of 2 p.m. all close contacts have been contacted.
• Contact - If you have some connection with a person who has tested positive, you are not considered a close contact and you will receive an email message from the university with that information. Those faculty, staff, incoming students and family members who were a part of orientation July 20 and July 21 are considered as contacts only (not close contacts). It is recommended you monitor yourself for any symptoms, but action in this case is NOT needed unless you begin to develop symptoms. At this time you are not considered at risk. 

The four orientation sessions July 27-31 will be conducted virtually and next week’s on-campus admissions visits will also be rescheduled. You will be contacted with further details if you are scheduled for one of these programs. 

We will continue to monitor the situation and update you as we learn more.  Please visit the communications section on our coronavirus website to see the messages that have been sent so far.  Future updates will also be posted there.

–Sent to the Bradley Family on 07/24/2020