Fifteen students at Arizona State University have tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, the university said Tuesday.

But, citing privacy laws, ASU said it won't disclose where the people who tested positive live, whether in the dorms or off campus,or which campus they're on.

As the pandemic continues, ASU spokeswoman Katie Paquet said, the university expects to see more of its community members test positive. The majority of the 15 cases are still living in Arizona, she said.

So far, the state has reported 326 identified cases and five known deaths because of COVID-19.

The State Press, ASU's student newspaper, first reported the positive ASU tests in an interview with ASU President Michael Crow.

The ASU community had the state's first identified coronavirus case as well, though that person, a male in his 20s who had traveled to Wuhan, China, has since recovered.

The Cottages of Tempe, an apartment complex geared toward ASU students, also reported a positive case two days ago.

At the University of Arizona, there have been three members of the university community who have tested positive for COVID-19, the university said. University officials did not specify whether those community members were students.

ASU is working with the Arizona Department of Health Services and the Maricopa County Department of Public Health and will defer to public health agencies regarding disclosure of positive test results, Paquet said.

Regardless of where a student who tests positive lives, they will be required to self-isolate.

If a student who lives in the dorms tests positive and has a roommate, it would be handled on a case-by-case basis, Paquet said. Either the person who tested positive would move or their roommates would be moved, she said.

ASU will work with the state and county to contact those who have come in contact with a positive case, Paquet said.

Positive tests have been identified through ASU's Health Services and outside providers, Paquet said.

After news of the 15 ASU cases came out, Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich wrote on Twitter that he was "deeply concerned" about the situation.

"Why weren’t campus facilities closed sooner?" Brnovich wrote. "ASU needs to release more information to the public now. This is a serious public health concern. Thousands of students & staff who could have been exposed are heading home."

In a statement in response to Brnovich's tweet, ASU said it is following health department guidelines and patient privacy rights "to the letter of the law." Students who tested positive that are in Arizona or other states are in isolation, Paquet said.

"We’re not sure what public health credentials the Attorney General has, but we have full confidence in our public health professionals and ASU’s own Health Services team," Paquet said. "We manage many complex public health and medical issues with our 75,000 on-campus students every day and COVID-19 is no exception.”

ASU: Leave dorms if you can

This weekend, ASU strongly encouraged students who remained in the dorms to consider moving out to other living arrangements, if they can. But the school is not giving refunds for housing or meal plans at this time.

"This will help if students need to be isolated, become ill or if the state moves to a shelter in place situation," Paquet said. "Residence halls will continue to remain open and essential services will continue to be provided to students who need to remain on campus."

ASU said it is increasing cleanings of dorm area, especially high-touch surfaces. Dining options on campus have moved to takeout-only and grab-and-go concepts to eliminate mealtime gatherings. Visitors are not allowed in dorms at this time.

Reach reporter Rachel Leingang by email at rachel.leingang@gannett.com or by phone at 602-444-8157, or find her on Twitter and Facebook.

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