Duke University administrators ordered all undergraduate students to stay on site for a week to contain a growing outbreak of coronavirus connected to “recruitment groups for selective life groups,” according to a campus-wide communication.
“Last week, more than 180 students are isolated for a positive COVID 19 test, and another 200 students are quarantined as a result of contact tracking,” wrote Durham, North Carolina school administrators. “This is by far the largest number of positive tests and quarantines in a week since the start of the pandemic.”
The order to remain in place, issued on Saturday, is in effect until Sunday morning, March 21. It came just days after Duke withdrew his men’s basketball team from the Atlantic Coast Conference basketball tournament due to a positive Covid-19 test.
“This action is necessary to contain the growing number of COVID cases among Duke graduate students, which is mainly driven by students attending recruitment parties for selective living groups,” said the announcement.
“If this sounds serious, it is because it is. This period of stay at the site is strongly recommended by our medical specialists.”
All face-to-face assignments, including lab assignments, will be remote with “VERY few exceptions”, and students must remain in their homes at all times “except for essential activities related to food, health or safety”, including testing surveillance.
Students on campus will be allowed to socialize only outdoors and in groups of three at most, and group activities are not allowed even with masks. Dinner is pick-up only.
The common spaces will be closed, students outside the campus are prohibited from entering the campus and are encouraged to stay at home. Students returning from a trip will be required to present negative tests.
