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University of Michigan students hit with stay-at-home order until Election Day after surge of COVID-19 cases

University of Michigan students hit with stay-at-home order until Election Day after surge of COVID-19 cases
Posted at 4:48 PM, Oct 20, 2020
and last updated 2020-10-20 19:48:44-04

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Students at the University of Michigan are being ordered to stay in place for two weeks after a surge of coronavirus cases driven by social gatherings on and off-campus.

Local health officials said Tuesday that the surge is overwhelming their ability to confront the pandemic. Officials say coronavirus cases related to the university represent 61% of the total in Washtenaw County, compared to just 2% in August.

More than 1,000 students have been infected since the start of the fall term despite limits on gatherings and classes that are mostly held online. Undergraduate students can attend in-person classes and also leave their residences for exercise, work, food, medical appointments, voting, and religious services.

In response to the order, university President Mark Schlissel says even more undergraduate classes will shift to remote instruction. Students who want to leave campus housing for the balance of the term could receive a refund or credit.