c/o Alexandra Turtil, Staff Photographer

Due to an uptick in COVID-19 cases, new campus restrictions were announced by Dean of Students Rick Culliton via an all-campus email Thursday, Nov. 18.

The changes were introduced in response to a significant increase in University COVID-19 cases. At the time of publication, there were 25 (13 students and 12 employees) active cases on campus, the highest number of cases the University has seen all semester. 

Beginning Friday, Nov. 20, all in-person classes will shift to a virtual format. This marks a change from the University’s previous policy, which planned for in-person classes to continue until the start of Thanksgiving break on Wednesday, Nov. 25. 

The University is also encouraging students who have received a negative result from their most recent COVID-19 test to leave campus as early as possible before the start of Thanksgiving break. To minimize the risk of infecting their peers and family members, students who have not yet received a negative test result are encouraged to wait until they receive one before leaving campus. 

Any students who test positive before a planned departure from campus will be offered isolation housing. Those students are encouraged to remain on campus for a quarantine period before receiving a negative test and returning home. 

Students leaving campus are encouraged to quarantine upon arrival at their new location ideally for 14 days, although Culliton quotes certain health authorities who recommend a four-day quarantine followed by a negative test result.  

Additional campus regulations were also imposed beginning immediately, including the suspension of organized athletic activities, the closure of campus libraries, the implementation of exclusively grab-and-go dining, and the restriction of access to residential halls, program houses, and wood-frames to exclusively their residents. Additionally, the Freeman Athletic Center will remain closed, and any non-essential travel off-campus is prohibited by the University. 

Students who petitioned to remain on campus over the winter break will be allowed to do so, and are encouraged to be tested on Tuesday, Nov. 24. Testing services will be closed from Wednesday, Nov. 25 through Monday, Nov. 30. After the Thanksgiving break, testing will resume on Wednesday, Dec. 2 on a weekly basis every Wednesday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Hallie Sternberg can be reached at hsternberg@wesleyan.edu or on Twitter @halsternberg. 

Katarina Grealish can be reached at kgrealish@wesleyan.edu.