The coronavirus pandemic has created a hectic news cycle. Here’s our most up-to-date COVID-19 news for the University of Michigan and Washtenaw County.
The Latest
Oct. 21: With 33 new deaths, the state of Michigan is reporting its highest daily COVID-19 death rate since June 6.
Here is a link to two interactive COVID-19 data graphics, and here is a link to get more county data in the state of Michigan. One tracks the current case and death count in Michigan by county. The other tracks the case and death count over time.
Here’s a link to the University’s COVID-19 tracking dashboard for the latest on-campus data.
Here’s what else you need to know:
Oct. 20: The spike in COVID-19 cases among University of Michigan students isn’t the result of in-person classes, but of social gatherings that violate public health guidelines, school leaders said at a panel Tuesday. Read the full story here.
Oct. 20: Stay-in-place order issued for U-M students amid spiking COVID-19 cases
The Washtenaw County Health Department issued a stay-in-place order for University of Michigan undergraduate students Tuesday to curb outbreaks of COVID-19. It will take place effective immediately and last until Nov. 3 at 7 a.m.
Undergraduate students, both on and off-campus, must stay in their residence unless attending class, accessing dining services or carrying out approved work that cannot be done remotely. Students who wish to return to a primary residence may do so only if they have completed the University’s procedures for leaving campus safely.
Oct. 20: The University of Michigan’s School of Nursing has told sophomore students that they are not to attend in-person classes for two weeks. Nursing students confirmed to The Daily that the announcement applies to sophomores only.
While attendance of in-person classes is prohibited, these students are still allowed to attend nursing labs.
Oct. 18: All students living in Mary Markley Residence Hall and staff members at the dorm were told not to attend in-person classes and were asked to follow enhanced social distancing for the next 14 days after pop-up testing identified 17 new cases on several floors, according to an Oct. 17 COVID-19 cluster notification.
“Due to the high prevalence of cases in Markley and the lack of cooperation from a high proportion of residents who have still not participated in mandatory testing– thus increasing the overall risk for residents — we are taking additional immediate measures to protect all Markley residents and prevent further spread of COVID-19,” the notification said.
Oct. 17: ‘U’ will put students in quarantine and isolation in buildings with regular residents
All designated spaces in vacant buildings for temporary quarantine and isolation housing in Northwood Apartments and Baits II Residence Hall are now occupied, according to an Oct. 16 email from Michigan Housing.
In response, the University of Michigan will now house students who have been exposed to or tested positive for COVID-19 in buildings with regular term residents. The University indicated that this was possible in September, and has put the units to use to “respond to emerging needs” as cases on campus rise.
“These additional rooms are part of the university’s overall inventory of quarantine and isolation housing spaces,” the email reads.
Quarantine and isolation housing occupancy more than doubled last week. The COVID-19 dashboard says that occupancy is currently at 50% with 300 students in the temporary housing.
Oct. 16: Quarantine housing spikes as ‘U’ cases cross 1,000 since start of school year
As of Friday, more than one thousand cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed since move-in and quarantine housing is at 46% capacity, according to the University of Michigan’s COVID-19 dashboard. This comes less than two months after move-in and the start of classes.
Oct. 15: Quarantine housing occupancy continues to rise
The University of Michigan’s quarantine and isolation housing has risen to 41.5% occupancy. This is an increase from 33.2% on Wednesday.
University spokesperson Kim Broekhuizen said the increase is “from students from Markley that have been placed into Q/I housing.”
The University lists a projected 80% capacity as a metric that could prompt “further responses and strategies regarding campus operations during the COVID-19 pandemic.” These potential actions could include increased testing, more social distancing requirements and a campus density reduction.
There are currently 126 students in isolation who have tested positive for COVID-19 and 123 in quarantine who have been exposed to the virus or are awaiting a test result, according to the COVID-19 dashboard.
Oct. 15: COVID-19 emerges in fraternity and sorority life as some chapters party and recruit freshmen
The Daily has uncovered a previously unreported cluster of COVID-19 cases connected to fraternity and sorority life on campus after a party between members in two houses.
The Chi Omega sorority had a cluster of COVID-19 cases and went on lockdown after members of the sorority attended a joint party with Delta Chi, a disaffiliated University fraternity, according to four Panhellenic Association sorority members.
Read The Daily’s previous COVID-19 coverage here.
COVID-19 numbers around the state:
Here is a link to two interactive COVID-19 data graphics, and here is a link to get more county data in the state of Michigan. One tracks the current case and death count in Michigan by county. The other tracks the case and death count over time. Hover over the graphs for more information.
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