The University of Wyoming has paused its planned return to in-person classes later this month for at least 5 days because a pre-set daily limit of 5 new cases among students, faculty, and staff has been reached.
UW began classes a week ago Monday exclusively online, then added some on-campus classes this past Monday. The plan was to be fully in-person courses on the 28th, but that’s now on hold with students told to shelter in place.
President Ed Seidel says the 5-day pause gives the university and public health officials time to gather more information and reexamine plans for on-campus classes before deciding on the appropriate next steps.
Seidel and other officials had warned from the time the phase-in plan was announced that it would be stopped by 5 positive cases in a day. UW recorded 4 positive tests on Monday and 3 on Tuesday before hitting 5 on Wednesday.
Most, if not all, of those cases came from off-campus gatherings over the weekend. 7 positive tests have been confirmed and 47 students placed on quarantine as a result of those parties.