The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is walking back its decision to hold all in-person classes and will instead switch to remote learning following reports of pockets of new coronavirus cases on campus.
"Effective Wednesday, Aug. 19, all undergraduate in-person instruction will shift to remote learning," school administrators said Monday. "Due to this announcement . . . we expect the majority of our current undergraduate residential students to change their residential plans for the fall."
Last week, the campus health center reported the coronavirus positivity rate shot up from 2.8% to 13.6%. after testing 954 students, 177 of whom were placed in isolation. Also, 349 were put in quarantine on and off-campus.
"As much as we believe we have worked diligently to help create a healthy and safe campus living and learning environment, we believe the current data presents an untenable situation," UNC-Chapel Hill said.
UNC reopened its campus Aug. 10 for in-person classes at less than 30% capacity and residence halls allowing less than 60% capacity. Classes had been in session for only three days when four clusters of coronavirus had been reported. The clusters consisted of five or more students in one residential hall testing positive for coronavirus.
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