UD ramps up restrictions designed keep COVID cases from continuing to climb

Betsy PriceEducation, Headlines, Health

The University of Delaware has told students not to eat together and turned its cafeteria into takeout only.

The University of Delaware has told students not to eat together and turned its cafeteria into takeout only.

 

With a spike in new COVID-19 cases just two weeks after students returned to campus, the University of Delaware has issued new rules for campus students.

On Tuesday’s weekly COVID-19 press briefing, DPH Director Karyl Rattay announced that Newark was one of the areas of concern in the state after adjusting the criteria to 250 cases per 100,000 people. 

Wednesday alone the school reported 89 positive cases. 87 of which were students with only 2 being employees of the university. So far, the school has reported 228 cases just this week. 

“From what I understand they (coronavirus numbers) were not large last week,” UD spokesperson Caitlin Olsen said during Monday’s city council meeting. “What I will say is that now they have been together over a weekend, that might change this week. Especially considering that they had some snow days.”

During Tuesday’s weekly COVID-19 press briefing, Dr. Karyl Rattay, director of the Delaware Division of Public Health, said Newark was one of the areas of concern in the state after adjusting the criteria to 250 cases per 100,000 people. 

Wednesday alone, the school reported 89 positive cases,  87 of which were students. The other two were employees. The school has reported 228 cases just this week. 

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In an effort to protect the health of student, staff and the community — and keep people in face-to-face classes —  the university released an updated list of measures to slow the spread of the virus.  

While the school will continue to have a select number of classes meeting in person, it has halted eating in the dining halls until further notice. Students  may still get food from the dining hall, but on a grab-and-go basis. Students are not to eat together in indoor spaces.

Rooms should not have more than 25 percent of its occupancy numbers, and the university has announced that those living in dorms can have no visitors.

All campus events are to be held virtually if the attendance exceeds 10 people. 

Faculty and staff are required to work, whether that is in person or virtual. 

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The school re-emphasized observing COVID-19 safety measures such as mask wearing and social distancing. 

If the number of new cases drop, the university said it would lift restrictions and return to the more relaxed guidelines that were implemented at the start of the semester. 

UD also warned students and staff that if the number continue to rise, then the school will be forced to enact further restrictions. That could include suspending athletics, moving all classes online, requiring all on campus students to remain in their dorms and prohibiting off-campus students to coming on campus.

The school will continue with required testing for on-campus students.

 

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