Temple University suspends in-person classes due to COVID-19 outbreak
103 active COVID-19 cases after conducting more than 5,000 tests, university says
PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Temple University is suspending in-person classes for two weeks amid a COVID-19 outbreak.
The announcement was made on Sunday in a letter to the university community, citing the increase as a possible result of small social gatherings happening off-campus.
"We are instituting a two-week 'pause' for in-person classes, and an extensive collaboration with PDPH to test and contact trace student cases and minimize further spread," the university said Sunday, after officials reported nearly 60 active COVID-19 cases within the school community on Friday.
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The university says further tests revealed that there are now a total of 103 active cases.
"I don't see a lot of distancing, but we're trying to wear masks," said Bella Alba, a sophomore at Temple.
Students taking in-person classes will go online starting Monday, August 31, and will continue until September 11. Classes that are already online will not be impacted by this decision.
Only classes designated by the dean of a school or college as "essential" will continue in-person learning. Those students who qualify will be notified directly.
"An assessment of the situation will be made during this period to determine the best course moving forward. We are hopeful, of course, that we will be able to return to the full hybrid program in place at the start of the semester, but any such decision will be driven by the data and public health guidance available at the time," said the university.
Working with the health department, Temple plans to test 400 students on Monday. They will be testing those who feel ill, and those who have been in contact with someone who has tested positive.
Read the full letter to the Temple community HERE.
