UNC-Chapel Hill pivots to remote teaching after coronavirus spreads among students during first week of class - The Washington Post

“As much as we believe we have worked diligently to help create a healthy and safe campus living and learning environment, we believe the current data presents an untenable situation.”The leaders pointed out a bright side: “So far, we have been fortunate that most students who have tested positive have demonstrated mild symptoms.”In Chapel Hill, clusters of coronavirus cases had popped up in three residence halls and a fraternity house in the first week of the fall term, sending students into isolation and quarantine rooms and raising faculty worries about how far the virus will spread in the campus community.The public health conditions at UNC-Chapel Hill were being closely watched as colleges and universities around the country move this month toward the first day of class, some with entirely remote instruction and others with a mix of teaching online and in person.Among 100 major public universities — two per state — an analysis from Davidson College found that 23 have plans to teach primarily in person or offer a “hybrid” of face-to-face and online. “That has caused us concern,” Paul Browne, the university’s vice president for public affairs and communications, said.In the week before class started Aug. 10 at UNC-Chapel Hill, 10 students and one employee tested positive, according to the university. More than half of classes had at least some in-person teaching on opening day, although many faculty have been switching in recent weeks to all-online delivery.Before the first day of class, university officials said they were confident in their plans but would closely monitor how many cases emerge and other data, including the number of students in quarantine.Officials say many students appear to be taking public health seriously.