Fourth UW student screened for coronavirus

KING COUNTY, Wash. — A fourth UW student is being screened for the new coronavirus, according to a release Wednesday from the university.

University officials said the school was notified by Public Health - Seattle & King County.

The student recently traveled from China in January and lives off campus. The school said the student is not associated with the three UW students who were previously tested and received negative results.

On Feb. 9, the university said the student tested negative. There are no confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UW community.

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On Jan. 26, the school said that three students were being screened for the virus.

The students recently traveled to Wuhan, China, where the new virus first appeared, and developed symptoms after returning, according to the release.

The students were tested, and two who live on campus are waiting for test results to be returned, officials said. The third student, who lives off-campus, tested negative for the infection.

The students who live on campus also tested negative.

UW’s Hall Health had an information station where students could pick up surgical masks Jan. 27, and many around campus had masks on over their mouths.

“I was pretty freaked out," said Jessica Hamilton, a UW student who wore a mask. “I’m a student with a disability, so my immune system is actually compromised. So it did kind of freak me out, it freaked out my parents a lot.”

“I think we should just be careful about the situation," said Jinlin Xiang, another student wearing a mask. “We don’t know what the test results are right now and we’re for the response from UW.”

Officials said testing is a precautionary measure that’s being taken, but they anticipate more people that are tested will not have the infection.

None of the students were hospitalized and all are doing well, health officials said.

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