Health care workers plan to temporarily live in University Tower

Over the course of the past few weeks, Indianapolis has become an emerging hotspot for COVID-19. As the numbers in Indiana continue to grow, Indiana University made the decision to let health care workers temporarily live in dorms on campus. 

Since IU health works so closely with all IU campuses, they decided to pair up with Indianapolis and Bloomington to give relief to first responders. University Tower is being transformed into a place where medical professionals can either self-quarantine or rest in between shifts. 

“This would include team members who need an alternative place to stay because they are worried about potentially exposing someone at home who is high risk”, Jonathon Hosea, of IU Health Public Relations said. “We’re grateful for the generosity of community partners like IU and IUPUI.”

Mentioned in a statement from Chancellor Nasser Paydar, as a public institution, it is IU’s job to help the community especially since students are not living in dorms right now. 

“IUPUI is strategically located among a number of major hospitals to provide support. At this time of crisis, we are working together to find innovative and effective ways to protect the safety and health of our community,” Paydar said. 

Along with opening up space to workers, IU has donated protective equipment across Indiana. This includes masks, gloves and goggles. They also have volunteers sewing masks that will be donated to the surrounding hospitals.