3 UCLA students test negative for coronavirus

Three UCLA students tested negative for the coronavirus.

The students had been in self-isolating off campus.

Officials asked students to seek medical attention if they developed flu-like symptoms.

Like other UC campuses, UCLA has added more hand sanitizer stations, increased cleanings with antiviral and antibacterial solutions and employed electrostatic sprayer systems to disinfect hard-to-reach surfaces in high-use areas.

UCLA also is preparing to expand the use of remote tools to stream lectures, create online meeting spaces and administer tests should the campus suspend in-person classes, as the University of Washington announced it would do beginning Monday.

Campus health experts are holding information sessions to answer questions, debunk rumors and provide resources. The next one is scheduled for Monday at 5 p.m. at De Neve Auditorium and will be livestreamed and updated information can be found on UCLA’s website for COVID-19.

In addition, UCLA is prohibiting official university travel to China, South Korea, Italy, Iran and Japan and “strongly discourages” personal travel to those countries because of their risk level as determined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, according to campus guidance. Any traveler arriving from these areas must self-isolate for 14 days. The university will keep residence halls open during the weeklong spring break, which begins March 23, for students unable to travel home.

Last week, UC Davis announced that a student who was placed in isolation tested negative for the virus. Two of the student’s roommates had also been isolated.

At least 12 counties in California have reported confirmed cases of the coronavirus. There are currently at least 60 known cases in the state, and one death.

Los Angeles County now has 11 coronavirus cases with the announcement of four new cases Thursday.