Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Appalachian State Announces 16 Cases of COVID-19 Among Construction Workers

  • By Dian Schaffhauser
  • 05/19/20

Appalachian State University recently learned that 16 subcontracted workers have tested positive for COVID-19. Notification came from the Appalachian District Health Department (AppHealthCare). This follows previous reporting of two other campus-related cases, one involving a university employee and the other a student who had traveled abroad.

The latest outbreak occurred on a team of people involved in a campus construction project. Although the university didn't name the project, it is in the process of constructing four new residence halls.

According to the university, the contractor "has engaged in a thorough cleaning at the job site and workers [would] remain off campus until cleared by public health to return."

When App State learned about the self-reported cases through one of its contractors, the school worked with the contractor and AppHealthCare to get testing done on all members of the work crew.

It also put into place new rules, requiring that subcontracted workers wear masks and maintain appropriate physical distance. That's already in place for university employees working on campus.

The institution said that all construction projects remained "on schedule."

About the Author

Dian Schaffhauser is a former senior contributing editor for 1105 Media's education publications THE Journal, Campus Technology and Spaces4Learning.

Featured

  • Niles West High School Natatorium Renovation

    Natatoriums are highly specialized spaces, and luminaires in this setting face several unique challenges. Perhaps the most significant is corrosion, which is exacerbated by high indoor humidity, condensation, and pool chemicals, often resulting in material degradation in luminaires not certified to perform in corrosive environments.

  • DLR Group Appoints New K–12 Education Practice Leader

    Integrated design firm DLR Group recently announced that it has named its new global K–12 Education leader, Senior Principal Carmen Wyckoff, AIA, LEED AP, according to a news release. Her teams have members in all 36 of the firm’s offices in the U.S., Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Europe, and Asia.

  • UNL Kiewit Hall

    Designing for Engineering Excellence: Integrating Sustainability and Wellness at UNLs Kiewit Hall

    Kiewit Hall at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln exemplifies how academic institutions can integrate sustainability and wellness into modern learning environments. With an integrated and collaborative team approach, Kiewit Hall addresses enhanced learning and creativity, physical health, and mental wellness, and fosters a sense of community through innovative design, operations, and policy solutions.

  • Spaces4Learning Trends & Predictions for Educational Facilities in 2026: Part II

    As education leaders look toward 2026, the design of K–12 and higher education facilities is being reshaped by powerful, converging forces. Survey respondents point to the rapid growth of Career and Technical Education, deeper alignment with workforce and industry needs, and the accelerating influence of AI and emerging technologies.

Digital Edition