MILWAUKEE — Marquette School of Dentistry's entire second-year class is now in quarantine following a potential COVID-19 exposure off-campus last weekend.
A Marquette University spokesperson tells TMJ4 News that the precaution is not because of a positive test in the class. The quarantine prohibits students from engaging in activities on campus and in the clinics.
Students are now being tested for the coronavirus and are adhering to the university's self-isolation guidelines.
The spokesperson adds that the university is noting an increase in coronavirus cases on campus and in the surrounding neighborhood. School and health officials are monitoring the "increase in community spread" rather than distinct clusters.
"The university continues to encourage all members of the Marquette community to be vigilant in exercising health and safety precautions to help slow the spread of COVID-19, including mask wearing, social distancing, frequent hand washing and avoiding gatherings," according to the statement from Marquette University Friday.
According to the university's COVID-19 dashboard on Thursday, 42 tests within the university community came back positive, 40 from students and two from faculty and staff. That is the highest one-day total the university has tallied since it began counting at the start of the school year.
A total of 3,439 tests have been made, with 446 coming back as positive and 2,993 coming back negative, according to the dashboard.