Duke University graduate students will be forced to quarantine after an outbreak of coronavirus cases that the school believes is related to recruiting groups.
Duke said in a statement that the action was to control the growing number of COVID-19 cases among undergraduate students, which he said was “mainly driven by students who participated in recruitment parties for selective living groups”.
The school said more than 180 students are isolated after a positive test for COVID-19, and another 200 are quarantined as a result of contract tracking.
“This is by far the largest number of positive tests and quarantines in a week since the start of the pandemic,” said the school.
With the request, all face-to-face courses will be transferred only online, and undergraduate students will not be able to participate in laboratory activities.
Students living on campus must remain in their residence or apartment, except for activities related to food, health or safety. Those who live off campus are not allowed on campus, except for surveillance tests, seeking medical care and obtaining food.
The order took effect at midnight on March 13 and will remain until 9 am on March 21. The university warned that “egregious and repeated violations” may result in the institution being suspended or withdrawn.
The school will continue to monitor the situation and will share an update on March 18.
Duke currently has 6,542 undergraduate students enrolled.