/https://specials-images.forbesimg.com/imageserve/5f3b0de4e547b0ac327ce34e/0x0.jpg?cropX1=0&cropX2=5175&cropY1=209&cropY2=3120&w=1920&resize=1920,0&ssl=1 "Notre Dame Reports 54 New Coronavirus Cases In One Week, But Will Stay Open—For Now")
TOPLINE
The University of Notre Dame has reported 54 new coronavirus cases in the span of a week but plans to stay open, as the sudden shutdown of UNC-Chapel Hill’s campus casts doubt over whether colleges intending to hold in-person classes will be able to stay the course through the semester.
General view of the Main Administration Building and Golden Dome are seen on the campus of Notre … [+]
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KEY FACTS
Notre Dame has reported a total of 58 Covid-19 cases since students returned to campus on August 3, the first positive test showing up three days after students first moved in.
In the week starting August 10, 54 more tests came back positive with school officials pinpointing at least two off-campus parties where students did not wear masks or practice social distancing as outbreak sources.
“What is reinforced is our concern that it only takes a weak link,” said university spokesperson Paul Browne, who emphasized the university’s “confidence” it can get the virus back under control and make it through the semester.
However, Browne told the South Bend Tribune that Notre Dame is continually assessing whether its safe to keep the campus open, looking at several factors including the “sheer number” of cases and positivity rate of tests.
The 8.3% positivity rate reported, as of August 15, is higher than the 5% rate the World Health Organization suggests for state reopenings.
Given this advice and the guidance of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which says colleges should consider closing buildings and ending in-person classes after Covid-19 outbreaks, Notre Dame could well follow the lead of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, which called off in-person classes one week into the semester.
Key Background
UNC Chancellor Kevin M. Guszkiewicz and Provost Robert A. Blouin announced the move to remote learning in a Monday letter after the university reported four coronavirus clusters at the Chapel Hill campus—three in student dormitories and one that affected an off-campus fraternity house. At least 177 students had tested positive for Covid-19 and were in isolation at UNC as of Monday, with a test positivity rate of 13.6%. UNC was one of the largest universities to bring students back to campus for classes.
Crucial Quote
“We believe the good of educating students and continuing vital research is very much worth the remaining risk,” wrote Notre Dame President Rev. John Jenkins in a New York Times op-ed this May entitled “We’re Reopening Notre Dame. It’s Worth the Risk.”
Further Reading
“We’re Reopening Notre Dame. It’s Worth the Risk.” (The New York Times)
“UNC Calls Off In-Person Classes One Week Into The Semester” (Forbes)
“Outbreaks Hit Fraternities, Sororities And Dorms As College Parties Resume” (Forbes)
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