Off-Campus Gatherings, Coronavirus Spike Cause Concern At UConn

STORRS, CT— When it comes to the coronavirus, Connecticut is doing very well as its positive rate has consistently been below 1 percent, which is among the nation's best, but there are still areas of concern.

One of the biggest concerns is the University of Connecticut campus, which has now reported 71 current positive or suspected on-campus cases, and 35 off-campus (commuter student) positives. This includes six new on-campus positives and seven new off-campus positives since yesterday’s figures, university officials said. The on-campus positive rate at UConn Storrs is currently 1.42 percent among residential students.

Eleanor JB Daugherty, UConn’s dean of students and associate vice president for student affairs, sent a letter to students sharing some concerns including reports of two off-campus gatherings Friday.

"Our most recent surveillance test results of over 350 students have revealed 13 new positive cases. This is a concern as we enter the Labor Day weekend," Daugherty said. "I learned this morning that state police responded to two different off-campus gatherings last night. These gathering will be reviewed by the Office of Community Standards for violations of the Student Code.

"An initial update from the state police is not definitive, but it is worrisome," Daugherty wrote. "Please be assured that off-campus activities are as endangering to the health and safety of others as on campus and they will be reviewed in that light. The vast majority of our students are being careful and following health guidelines. However, those who aren’t are getting sick or getting others sick."

UConn has recorded a cumulative figure of 95 confirmed positive residential student cases since testing began Aug. 14 before they moved into their residence halls. Of the 95 cumulative confirmed cases, 55 have recovered and left isolation.

UConn continues to test and retest residential students who are quarantined because they may have been in contact with others who later tested positive, officials said. The University is also testing randomly selected students on campus as part of monitoring community health.

The University also is aware of 35 cases among off-campus Storrs students who were tested because they will be visiting campus for classes, and two positive cases among faculty/staff who expect to be working regularly on campus, officials said. Note that they must provide proof of a negative test before they may return to campus, officials added.

No positives among residential UConn Stamford students; four among UConn Stamford commuter students; one UConn Hartford commuter student; and none among Waterbury and Avery Point commuter students.

"Any decision to modify or curtail campus operations, including with respect to residential life and in-person classes, would be made based on several factors, including: the prevalence of illness in our community, our ability to provide adequate ongoing medical care and support to our residential population, and our ability to operate and maintain vital campus infrastructure," school officials said.

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University officials said contact tracing efforts are working and students need to disclose their close contacts when interview by staff.

"Whether the gatherings are large or small, I must again share with you that these exposures occur when individuals are in close contact with one another – less than six feet – and not wearing a mask," Daugherty wrote. "This is as simple as having a few friends in your room and playing card games, video games, watching Netflix – things that I am sure many of us can relate to. These acts appear innocent and understandable during a time when so much has been sacrificed. They are not innocent and they are putting your health and the health of others at risk.

"Today is a beautiful day. I want you to enjoy it. But we must not relax the universal precautions that we know keep our community safe: wear a mask, stay with your family unit, maintain physical distance, and remain on campus this weekend," Daugherty said.