3 FL Corrections Employees, FIU Student Have Coronavirus

MIAMI, FL — Three Florida corrections employees and a student at Florida International University are among the latest people to test positive for the new coronavirus.

The cases were confirmed in separate announcements late Tuesday by FIU and the Miami-Dade Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

"These employees have been at home in self-quarantine and employees who had been in close contact with the affected employees have been advised to get tested," corrections officials said.

The agency did not immediately respond when asked if inmates had been exposed to the infected workers.

FIU officials said the student who tested positive was last on campus on March 7 at the Law Library.

"Out of an abundance of caution and based on the fact that 17 days have passed since the student was on campus, it is unlikely that other members of the university community were exposed," FIU officials said. "The student was tested off campus and self-reported results to the student’s dean."

Any member of the university community who develops a dry cough and fever have been advised to seek medical attention.

"FIU Health and the Student Health Clinics are seeing patients by appointment only," university officials said. "All patients should call ahead and speak with a provider prior to entering the premises."

A university spokesperson confirmed recently that an employee tested positive for COVID-19 after traveling outside the country on vacation. The FIU employee self-quarantined after testing positive. See FIU Employee Has Coronavirus; Students Uneasy To Return To Campus

"In other words, when this person came back from vacation, this person was already feeling sick so there was no returning to the university," the FIU spokesperson told Patch.

FIU students can call 305-348-2401 to set up an appointment. Visit the FIU coronavirus site for updates and resources.