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COVID-19 live updates: MIT students had contact with Tufts student who tested positive

Mar. 14, 2020

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MIT Medical confirms MIT student contact with Tufts student who tested positive
Friday, March 13, 4:02 p.m.

MIT Medical confirmed today that two MIT students were in contact with a Tufts University student who tested positive for COVID-19. 

The two MIT students were in contact with the Tufts student Sunday. The Tufts student became symptomatic Tuesday and tested positive for COVID-19 Thursday.

The Medford Department of Public Health determined that the Tufts student did not enter any MIT living spaces. Both MIT students have been asked to self-quarantine, and neither student has experienced any symptoms.

“If you are not contacted by the Department of Public Health, you are not presumed to be at immediate risk,” MIT Medical wrote on its COVID-19 updates website.

“Whatever the reason, what self-quarantining really means is that this individual or family has chosen to do the right thing for our community by limiting their exposure to others,” MIT Medical wrote.

If community members are concerned about symptoms including coughing, difficulty breathing, or fever, MIT Medical advises contacting a personal health care provider at the earliest opportunity. An MIT Medical clinician may also be reached at the COVID-19 hotline 617-253-4865.

Undergraduates provided with free pick-up and storage of belongings
Friday, March 13, 4:02 p.m.

To help undergraduates accelerate their move-out, MIT is offering free pick-up and storage of their belongings from Piece by Piece Movers.

David Friedrich, senior associate dean for housing and residential services, wrote in an email to all undergraduates this afternoon that students can order pick-up and storage at www.storagemit.com. The email includes the credit card number, expiration date, and security code that students should use at check-out. 

Students utilizing this resource should follow the packing, labeling, and drop-off instructions in the email. Students are advised to write their name, email, and phone number on all boxes “for extra security,” Friedrich wrote.

CDC expands Level 3 travel health notice to most of Europe
Friday, March 13, 4:02 p.m.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has expanded its Level 3 travel health notice, indicating widespread sustaining (ongoing) spread, to most of Europe. China, Iran, and South Korea remain on the list of Level 3 countries. Individuals returning to campus from these countries should fill out MIT’s travel registration form and self-quarantine for 14 days upon return.

MIT pushes undergrads to accelerate move out timeline
Friday, March 13, 12:28 a.m.

MIT is “strongly advising all undergraduate students to accelerate their move out plans,” according to an MIT Alert sent at around 10:45 p.m. today. All classes Friday are cancelled. 

Undergraduate students who move out by the end of Sunday will be provided with free storage (if they are returning in the fall) and reimbursed up to $500 for “travel change expenses and new reservation costs,” according to additional information published on the Division of Student Life’s website. 

“With the declaration of a state of emergency by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the doubling of Covid-19 cases in the Greater Boston area, the Institute is increasingly concerned for the safety of the community and is therefore taking extraordinary steps,” the alert said. 

Charlie Baker, governor of Massachusetts, declared a state of emergency Tuesday, shortly before President L. Rafael Reif informed undergraduate students that they would be required to move out by March 17.

Editor's note: Wenbo Wu, Kerri Lu, and Jessica Shi have contributed to the reporting and writing of these updates.