As the University of New Haven contends with a growing Covid-19 outbreak on campus, two other local colleges reported rising cases of the virus.
As of Oct. 14, 142 UNH students have been diagnosed with active cases of Covid-19 — an increase from the 113 cases that had prompted the university to move to a temporary period of online-only classes three days earlier.
As a result of the increasing case numbers, UNH announced on Thursday that it will extend online-only classes for an additional week, through Oct. 26, hoping to keep the virus at bay. Commuter students are required to remain off campus for this online-only period.
In an email to university community members, UNH urged students to “study in place” if they are not facing a mandatory quarantine: officials “strongly recommend[ed]” that students leave their rooms as infrequently as possible and limit in-person interactions to their roommates and family members.
All residential students who have not yet been tested are required to obtain a Covid-19 test by Oct. 24, according to the email.
UNH isn’t the only nearby higher education institution contending with an uptick in cases.
This week, 18 members of Yale’s men’s ice hockey team tested positive for Coronavirus. When the first six of those cases were discovered on Tuesday, the university temporarily suspended all in-person athletic training for at least one week and shut down athletic facilities for cleaning.
On Thursday, Yale’s Covid-19 Coordinator Stephanie Spangler announced that 12 additional cases have been identified on the sports team. The university updated its Covid-19 alert status from “green” (low risk) to “yellow” (low to moderate risk) and urged anyone who had been in recent contact with a member of the ice hockey team to quarantine.
Meanwhile, Albertus Magnus announced on Thursday the discovery of three new Covid-19 cases among students — the college’s first identified Covid-positive students of the semester. Two of the students who tested positive are undergraduates; one is a graduate student.
In a press release, the university wrote that each of the students is isolating at home and that the relevant spaces on campus would receive a “deep cleaning.”
This story was produced with financial support from Solutions Journalism Network.
Previous stories:
• Students Play The Covid Heavy
• 2 Campuses, Week 1: Zoom vs. Zip
• Albertus Continues Convocation Tradition, With A Twist
• Yalies Begin 14-Day Dorm Quarantines
• Future Mechanics Return To Class In Person
• In Car Lab, They’re Geared Up For Covid
• Prof, Students Forge “Hybrid” Routine
• Coronavirus Takes A Seat
• Despite An Outbreak, Colleges Stay Course
• Classes Move Online As Outbreak Spreads
