DAYTON — (UPDATE @ 7:49 p.m.): A “sharp increase” in recent days in the number of undergraduate students at the University of Dayton who have tested positive for COVID-19 has prompted the university to extend remote learning at least two weeks, UD President Eric Spina announced Thursday night.
There have been 148 new confirmed cases since last update Aug. 26. There are 380 current active cases and 410 cumulative cases reported since June 23, according to the university’s COVID-19 dashboard.
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“We are praying for their quick recovery. The University also is taking additional steps to stem the spread of the virus and give the campus community its best chance to remain on campus this semester,” Spina and William Fischer, vice president for student development, said in an email to the campus community released tonight.
- Effective immediately, the campus status is elevated to “4 — Red — WARNING.” This is necessary because, with the quick increase in cases, it will take some time for UD contact tracers to gather data and for University leaders to assess the results to determine the full extent of spread in the campus community.
- All in-person undergraduate courses will continue remotely for at least another two weeks, until Sept. 14.
Also, starting Friday, additional safety measures will go into effect:
- All dining options on campus will move to grab-and-go. With indoor dining closed, we ask that you eat in your rooms, or outside while observing physical distancing of 6 feet.
- No visitors, even from within the University community, are allowed in your room, suite or house — only students who live with you should be in your residence. Please meet your friends outside — while wearing masks and observing physical distancing of 6 feet.
- To help protect against spread in the greater Dayton community, do not leave campus unless you have an approved educational reason such as a co-op, internship or student teaching assignment; outside employment; or for essentials like groceries or medications. Follow physical distancing and wear your mask when you do have to leave campus for essential reasons. Do not go to bars or restaurants. Use delivery services like GrubHub or DoorDash whenever you can.
- The Saturday shuttle service is suspended until further notice.
- Undergraduate commuter students also should continue to stay off campus and learn remotely.
- Students may anonymously report violations of the Flyer COVID-19 Agreement and other safety measures.
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There have been many positive signs of students following safety protocols in recent days — more face coverings, more physical distancing and lots of peer-to-peer encouragement to comply with health and safety expectations. It will take some time, however, for this positive change in behavior to be reflected in the testing data.
Please continue to be vigilant. Assume that the virus is anywhere and everywhere. Protect yourself, and protect others, at all times. Continue to follow safety protocols. And, if you’re sick, have tested positive, or are a close contact, please go home to isolate or quarantine, if you can.
The University will continue to monitor the state of the virus on campus, and will be prepared to begin rolling back any new restrictions and allow in-person instruction when the situation has improved substantively.
Cox Media Group
