Duke students contracted coronavirus on Israel trip

The Fuqua School of Business students were in Israel with a group called "I-Trek." The company describes its week-long trips as combining "education, culture and fun."

Duke officials would not confirm the nature of the students' trip, saying only, "The individuals were not on a Duke-sponsored trip, and Duke had no role in the their decisions to travel to and from the country."

Four students from the trip tested positive for the virus on the trip and remained overseas to recover.

The other students were asked to quarantine themselves in off-campus housing upon their return to Durham.

Since Tuesday, 26 Duke students have tested positive for the virus and remain in isolation, Durham County public health officials said. It's believed at least 15 of them were on the trip, while the others had some recent contact with them.

"In the event any of the tests come back positive, the property is prepared, and we have emergency protocol in place," the email continued. "We continue to take precautionary measures such as deep cleaning all common areas, hallways and high-touch surfaces in the building and ask that you do the same in your homes."

Durham County Public Health and Duke Health officials said they will test all individuals who traveled with the group to Israel.