Merrimack College Goes Remote As It Deals With Outbreak

NORTH ANDOVER, MA — Merrimack College switched to remote classes, Monday, as it grapples with a coronavirus outbreak at its Monican Hall dormitory. The college plans to return to in person classes Monday, Oct. 5, it said Sunday.

Sixty-four Monican Hall residents had tested positive for the virus, as of Thursday. Another 12 students and staff members across the college tested positive through Saturday.

>>Merrimack College Reports Additional Cases In Dorm Outbreak

The 12 additional cases — three commuters, one employee and eight residential students — do not "appear, at this time, to be connected to the Monican cluster," the college said.

Everyone who has tested positive is in isolation and their direct contacts are in quarantine, the college said. The goal of temporary remote learning is "to protect our community and restore our sense of safety."

The campus is remaining open, otherwise. Residential students (except for Monican residents) are expected to stay on campus, and food service will reman open. But all residents are required to get tested by Monday evening, and any who left campus will have to quarantine while they await their testing results.

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.