WCSU In Danbury Delays Return To Residence Halls For 2 Weeks

DANBURY, CT — Western Connecticut State University will not allow students to return to residence halls for another two weeks, school President John Clark announced Saturday.

The move comes with the recommendation of the Connecticut Department of Public Health, and one day after the DPH issued a "COVID-19 alert" for Danbury following a significant increase in cases in the last two weeks. Danbury has had 147 total new cases since Aug. 13, according to the latest numbers from the state. There have been 1,189 test results reported between Aug. 12 and Aug. 20.

The order from Clark is effective Aug. 22 and for at least two weeks.

The university is granting exemptions for students who have already moved into the residence halls. Those students must stay on campus for the next two weeks.

All classes will begin in an online only format, starting on Aug. 26 as planned. The school plans to return to the original schedule "as soon as it is safe to do so."

"We understand that delaying the campus experience is inconvenient and disappointing to students and their families, but it is our responsibility to follow state recommendations to keep our students, faculty and staff as safe as possible while doing our part to prevent community spread," Clark posted to the university website.