2 Penn State students tested positive for COVID-19 while traveling abroad, university says
Two Penn State students who were traveling abroad and did not return to any of the university’s campuses tested positive for the new coronavirus, a university spokesman said Thursday.
One is in the United States and is asymptomatic, while the other student is still abroad, university spokesman Wyatt DuBois said. They are the first confirmed COVID-19 cases with ties to Penn State.
University spokeswoman Heather Robbins declined to release additional information, including which campus the students attended.
The university suspended in-person classes for the spring semester and postponed commencement Wednesday amid concerns about COVID-19.
There are no confirmed cases in Centre County.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health confirmed 185 cases statewide as of noon Thursday, a 39% percent increase since Wednesday.
For most people, COVID-19 causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. Older adults and those with existing health problems are at a heightened risk for more severe illness.
This story was originally published March 19, 2020 at 1:11 PM.