#UNC Chapel Hill switches to remote learning after 130 test positive for COVID-19

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Students on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill today.
Julia Wall/The News & Observer via AP

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on Monday abruptly announced it will no longer hold in-person undergraduate classes — after 130 students tested positive for the coronavirus in the first week of the fall semester.

A letter from university leaders stated that “given the number of positive cases” all undergrad classes will be moved online beginning on Wednesday.

The announcement comes after the school’s COVID-19 positivity rate among students skyrocketed from 2.8 percent to 13.6 percent between Aug. 10, when classes began, and Sunday.

As of Monday, 130 students out of 954 tested positive the virus, most with mild symptoms. Five employees also tested positive, according to the school’s case-tracking dashboard.

Close to 350 students were quarantined and another 177 were in isolation both on and off campus, the university said.

“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,” said Chancellor Kevin M. Guskiewicz and Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Robert A. Blouin.

UNC said it also tracked five coronavirus clusters — defined by local health officials as five or more cases in a single dwelling — to four student residence halls and an off-campus fraternity house.

Students who now want to cancel their on-campus housing can do so with no penalty, according to the announcement.

Courses at the graduate, professional and health affairs schools will not be affected by the change, the statement said.

“There are no easy answers as the nation navigates through the pandemic,” said UNC President Peter Hans, as he urged students to wear facial coverings and maintain social distancing.

At this point, Hans said, there is no indication that any other UNC schools will also switch to remote learning only.