WIFE OF UT-AUSTIN PRESIDENT TESTS POSITIVE FOR CORONAVIRUS

  

The president of the University of Texas at Austin has announced his wife has tested positive for COVID-19.

UT-Austin President Gregory Fenves said in an open letter today (Friday) that not only did his wife, Carmel, test positive for the virus, but a second family member of his family is a presumed positive case.  He said he has now been tested for the virus, and all three of them are in self-isolation.

In his letter, Fenves explained he and his wife traveled last week to New York City for several events with alumni and students.  After they returned home Saturday afternoon, he said she began showing mild flu-like symptoms.

Fenves said his wife was tested for COVID-19 after testing negative Thursday for the flu.  This morning at 5:30 a.m., they received the news that she tested positive for COVID-19.  He said this news came several hours after local health officials had announced two other, separate cases in Travis County.

Fenves strongly recommended anyone who has had close contact with him, his family members, or anyone else with COVID-19 to begin self-isolation.

Classes had already been cancelled the week of spring break, but this announcement coincided with classes being cancelled today.

Fenves said he anticipated that someone in Austin or at the university would test positive for the virus in the coming days or weeks.  He concluded that the university will be making modifications for the rest of the semester.