UC Berkeley hit pause this week on plans for in-person learning, as COVID-19 cases spike on campus.
The school will delay plans to resume occasional outdoor instruction by at least a week. Classes in tents placed on Lower Sproul Plaza had been planned for Feb. 1.
A small number of in-person classes indoors are set to begin on February 16.
“Over the last few days, the campus has had a surge in positive COVID-19 cases both in the residence halls and among students in off-campus housing, including some in the CalGreeks community,” officials wrote in an unsigned statement, which said the university thinks the cases are tied to small off-campus gatherings.
“Many more students have been identified as contacts who were potentially exposed to the virus,” the statement said.
The campus health service reported more than 200 positive cases this week.
On Monday, campus health and residential life officials told students who are living on campus they must self-quarantine.
“You are required to remain in your room as much as possible and wear a face covering while in all common areas, including bathrooms (unless brushing your teeth, washing your face, showering, etc.),” they wrote.
The school recommends that students and staff on campus be tested once per week.
To enforce testing requirements, the university has implemented a color-coded badge system that regulates entrance into campus buildings and dining halls.
— MJ Johnson and Kevin Stark