At 4:56 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 10, students received an alert that Anderson Hall is now under quarantine after 9 positive cases of COVID-19 were detected today.

The Everbridge alert reads as follows: “Anderson Hall is under quarantine because of nine positive COVID-19 cases detected today. Students living in Anderson must return to their rooms immediately and check their email for further information.”

The Wire will continue to update this story going forward.

Update 7:32 p.m. At 6:46 p.m., Peter Harvey emailed the Whitman Community about the 9 detected cases in Anderson Hall.

The email first provided an overview of the situation, then detailed the quarantine requirements.

They are as follows: “For the duration of this quarantine, all students in Anderson are restricted to their residence hall. They will move to remote learning, will have food delivered by Bon Appetit, and will not be going to Cleveland Commons or other buildings on campus.”

Harvey then wrote, “If you share classes or activities with someone who lives in Anderson, you don’t need to panic. Just because someone lives in Anderson and is quarantined, that [doesn’t] necessarily mean that they have tested positive for COVID nor does it mean that they have been in close contact with you.  Close contact is defined by CDC as someone who was within 6 feet of an infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period starting from 2 days before illness onset (or, for asymptomatic patients, 2 days prior to test specimen collection) until the time the patient is isolated.

If you have followed physical distancing and masking protocols, it is unlikely that you would have had close contact. If a student does indicate that you have been a close contact, you will receive follow-up with more information.”

This evening, the Coronavirus Taskforce will be virtual meeting with the students in Anderson Hall to discuss quarantine expectations and the next steps.

Additionally, “representatives from the health center, dean of students office, residence life, and the coronavirus task force will be there to answer their questions.”

The Wire will continue its coverage as we continue to receive information from the community.