CHICO, CA (MPG) – Days into the start of Chico State University’s Fall Semester, reports of positive reports of COVID19 among students began to surface. Students had returned to the university on August 24^th, some lodging in campus dorms and attending the few in-person instruction classes being held on campus, while others attended virtual courses.

On Wednesday, August 26^th, the Butte County Department of Public Health warned of a spike in COVID19 infections associated with college age persons, and that over 15 new COVID cases among people the ages of 18-24 had been identified in an apartment complex near the Chico State University Campus.

Then, Sunday, August 20^th, just a week after instruction began, University President Gayle Hutchinson ordered the closure of campus dorms and the cancellation of in-person instruction due to the “alarming” increase in cases and concern for student safety. Hutchinson stated that “Nearly every on-campus residence hall has been impacted by at least one positive case and there’s concern that numbers will only increase.” An update released by the University the following day states that they had learned of an additional nine new COVID cases involving students who spent time in Tehama Hall, Mechoopda Hall, Wildcat Recreation Center, and the Sim Center. These recent incidents bring the total number of cases on campus since the beginning of August to 36 (not all currently active).

Students currently living in residence halls have been given until Sunday, September 6^th to find alternate housing. Hutchinson has been quoted to write, “Simply put, we need students out of the residence halls as quickly as possible for their own safety… Unfortunately, with COVID-19, exposure to even a small number of individuals has serious consequences in terms of community spread…”. The limited number of in-person classes being held will continue virtually for the remainder of the fall semester.

Chico State has been and will continue to work closely with the Butte County Department of Health and with infected individuals to enact contact-tracing procedures. Individuals that believe they may have been exposed are directed to self-quarantine and seek out testing.  All common areas on campus that the infected individuals may have frequented have been disinfected and deep-cleaned, while areas that cannot receive such treatment have been completely closed down for the recommended CDC 7-day period.