US Coronavirus: Universities, Colleges Report 8,700 New COVID-19 Infections

Unrelenting COVID-19 flare-ups at colleges and universities nationwide are leaving school administrators scrambling to deal with the challenging task of keeping their schools open and their students safe at the same time.

At least 36 states have reported positive COVID-19 cases at colleges and universities since the fall semester opened in mid- to late-August. More than 8,700 students have been confirmed with the disease since reporting to campus. The rising number of cases are linked to student parties and crowded bars packed with students.

"I am deeply disappointed by the selfish behavior of these students who defiantly chose to ignore our COVID-19 Code of Conduct," said Providence College president Kenneth R. Sicard, whose school has issuing an "interim suspension" to students who violate social distancing regulations. "While I find no joy in having to endorse such strong sanctions, I know they are necessary if we are going to have a successful fall semester."

Threatened by the new spikes in cases, some college towns are considering shutting down. On Saturday, the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa reported more than 1,000 students have tested positive for the disease since the campus reopened two weeks ago. The University of Alabama system confirms 1,200 cases of the disease across all its three campuses since the semester began Aug. 19, and 1,300 cases in total since the start of the year.

The University of Dayton in Ohio reported 116 cases Thursday and 148 Friday, leading school administrators to announce classes will be held online for at least two weeks. Kansas State University revealed COVID-19 outbreaks in four different sororities. Oklahoma State University quarantined the sorority house of Pi Beta Phi after 23 sorority members tested positive for the COVID-19 virus.

“This was expected,” said Monica Roberts, OSU director of media relations at the time. “When you bring back 20,000 students, there will invariably be more cases related to campus ... Our priority is the safety and well-being of our campus community and transparency in communications.”

Among the first universities to shut down in-person teaching were Notre Dame and North Carolina-Chapel Hill, which reached this decisions two weeks ago. Notre Dame announced a two-week-long suspension of in-person instruction after 146 students and a staff member tested positive for COVID-19. UNC canceled in-class instruction for the fall semester after the school's COVID-19 positivity rate jumped to 13.6% from 2.8%.

These schools are among a growing number finding it almost impossible to balance in-person teaching with the job of keeping students from spreading or contracting the disease. The heated debate over children returning to school has led to several court cases to decide the issue.

Schools in other countries are also facing the same challenges. At least 41 schools in Berlin, Germany have reported coronavirus cases among students and staff since they reopened earlier this month.

South Korea, which also reopened its schools a few weeks ago despite a huge spike in COVID-19 cases, has now ordered students in elementary, middle and high school in the greater Seoul area revert to online classes until Sept. 11. More than 400 new cases were recorded Thursday, the highest number since March.