The University of Connecticut quarantined five-bedroom campus residents after 35 students tested positive for Covid-19.
School officials blamed the March parties for the outbreak and raised their main campus in the village of Storrs to “yellow” restrictions that include online instruction for quarantined students.
“This spike in positives could be related to large off-campus meetings that were reported last weekend,” said student dean Eleanor Daugherty in a letter.
Quarantine means that students in Eddy, Middlesex, Windham, Rogers and Russell dormitories are unable to attend classes or events. All residents of the campus dormitory will be denied visitors, Daugherty said.
Residents of the five dormitories are expected to stay on campus until spring break, scheduled for the week of April 11, or complete quarantine at home, Daugherty said.
Connecticut State Police interrupted a party at a house near campus on March 27 that was attended by about 100 guests, the agency said in a statement.
“It was reported that the people present were not distancing themselves socially,” said the department.
Two people were arrested, one on suspicion of hosting the event, despite the pandemic restrictions, and the other for throwing a drink at a state official, the state police said.
Daugherty warned against parties.
“These meetings increase the risk of exposure and spread, which is much more likely to occur when we do not follow universal precautions, such as wearing masks and keeping physical distance,” she said.
Joe Studley contributed.