More than 100 students living in fraternity houses near the University of Washington campus have reported positive results for COVID-19, with hundreds of results pending. The Interfraternity Council, a student-led board of directors for UW fraternities, said that at least 105 residents living in 15 fraternity houses reported that they tested positive, reports KIRO-TV, a CBS affiliate.
The university learned Saturday that some fraternity residents had symptoms of COVID-19, and public health officials noted an increase in cases among people ages 18-20, according to university spokeswoman Michelle Ma.
Ma said more than 800 students have been evaluated since Monday in response to the outbreak of the Greek system. The university expects to have an updated case count early next week. The Inter-Fraternity Council has asked fraternity houses to stop holding social events, Ma said.
Experts say the outbreak, along with the cases among student-athletes, is a troubling sign of what might be in store if universities reopen in the fall. Leaders at the University of Washington this week said they hope to reopen in person, with larger classes taught virtually, but that plans could change depending on the spread of the virus.
Daniel Leifer, a pediatrician studying dermatology at the University of Washington, estimates he has seen a dozen parties walking down Greek Row in the past few months. The students were standing together, and there were no masks anywhere, he said.
Dr. Charles Lockwood, senior vice president of Health at the University of South Florida, has administered more than 300 coronavirus tests and is alarmed at the increase in youth.
“It really is consistent with what we’ve been looking at, which is an incredible breach of the use of face masks, social distancing, particularly among young adults and teens,” he said.
Lockwood acknowledged that young people have “a different way of looking at life.”
“The problem is that while he may not die and he may not even know he is sick, he may be killing other people,” he said.
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