Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
How Back-To-School is Going (College Fraternity Edition)
USA Today: Quarantine For 30 Of 40 Greek Houses At Indiana University-Bloomington
Seven more Greek houses at Indiana University-Bloomington are being directed to quarantine because of COVID-19, bringing the total up to 30 as of Wednesday evening. There are 2,600 students in 42 communal living houses at IU, IU spokesperson Chuck Carney said. The houses include 40 fraternity and sorority houses and the Evans Scholars and Christian Student Fellowship houses. (Gerike, 9/2)
The New York Times: University Of South Carolina Disciplines Fraternities For Virus Violations
The University of South Carolina took disciplinary action on Monday against more than a dozen students and several Greek life organizations that administrators said recently hosted parties or large gatherings, as the number of cases of the coronavirus on campus rises. The university announced that 15 students had been placed under interim suspension and that six Greek houses had been charged with student conduct violations stemming from the parties, which officials said violated emergency orders in Columbia, S.C. (Vigdor, 9/1)
WCIA.Com: Two Students, One Fraternity Suspended For Violating COVID-19 Safety Guidelines
Two University of Illinois students and an entire fraternity are suspended for breaking the university’s COVID-19 safety rules. On top of that, around 100 students are being disciplined for their behavior over the weekend. ... “I see people going out to the bars still, and I know they’ve changed the regulations, but it’s still very concerning to me to see that many people going out, not really socially distancing and just living like normal,” said junior Kayla Vargas. (Bunting, 9/1)
Greenville News: 32 Furman Students Test Positive For COVID-19 After Fraternity Parties
Furman University has suspended the Kappa Alpha fraternity from campus for at least four years after the group hosted two parties that resulted in dozens of students testing positive for COVID-19. The university first announced last week that it was investigating reports of two parties at the former Kappa Alpha fraternity house on Aug. 21 and Aug. 22. As a precaution, school officials told 53 students who attended the parties to quarantine while they get tested for the virus. (Gilreath, 9/2)
In related news from college campuses —
The Wall Street Journal: To Test Or Not To Test? Colleges Face Decision As Students And Coronavirus Arrive On Campus
lasses at the University of Arkansas started last week, but the campus had little back-to-school bustle. Many students are largely holed up in their dorm rooms amid fears of the coronavirus. Among its nearly 30,000 students, faculty and staff, Arkansas tested just 158 people on campus between Saturday and Tuesday and found 38 confirmed cases of coronavirus. Positive tests administered away from campus and self-reported by anyone who was on campus jumped by 295 new cases over the same period. (9/2)
ABC News: Colleges Ask Students To Leave Campus Amid COVID-19 Outbreaks, But Experts Advise The Opposite
As colleges deal with COVID-19 outbreaks, some are having their students leave campus -- which medical authorities warn is the opposite of what they should be doing. White House coronavirus response coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx over the weekend advised against residential students -- infected with COVID-19 -- isolating off campus. (Deliso, 9/2)
NBC News: COVID-19 At Colleges: Fauci Urges Schools To Keep Students On Campus As Outbreaks Spread
Only a few weeks into fall semester, colleges and universities across the country are urgently trying to control clusters of COVID-19 infections on their campuses. Thousands of cases have been reported nationwide, forcing universities to switch to virtual classes and either quarantine or, in some cases, send students back home whether or not they're sick. The situation has become serious enough that Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's leading infectious disease expert, is urging colleges: If at all possible, do not send students home. (Edwards, 9/3)
