Samuel Case, FISM News

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After only eight days of classes, the University Notre Dame will stop in-person classes for two weeks after 146 students and staff tested positive for the coronavirus. As of today, the school has conducted 927 COVID-19 tests out of the 12,000 student campus. No one has been hospitalized.

The announcement was made by University President Father John Jenkins. “The virus is a formidable foe,” Jenkins said. “For the past week, it has been winning. Let us as the Fighting Irish join together to contain it.” He explained that via contact tracing the school has determined that “most infections are coming from off-campus gatherings,” who then pass it on to others. He then asked the students to “observe health protocols” for the health and well being of the campus. 

Notre Dame is not the only major school that had to temporarily close its doors due to the virus. Michigan State University was originally intending to have on-campus classes but has instead made all classes remote for the fall semester. This decision comes even before classes officially begin on Sept. 2. 

Michigan State’s official twitter made an announcement requesting “undergraduate students who planned to live in our residence halls this fall to stay home and continue their education with MSU remotely.” Although they did say “Just like we did this spring, we will continue to provide a safe place for a small number of students in our residence halls.”

“Given the current status of the virus — particularly what we are seeing at other institutions as they re-populate their campus communities — it is unlikely we can prevent widespread transmission of COVID-19 between students if our undergraduates return to campus,” Michigan State officials wrote.

Sourced from NPR, NBC, University of Notre Dame, and Twitter @michiganstateu