Cases Rise, Restrictions Begin

Inside Higher Ed

Lilah Burke

February 18, 2021

COVID-19 cases are on the decline nationwide. College campuses are another story.

Though the large, mostly public universities that set records for their high case counts last semester are actually doing better than they did last term, other campuses — including those that kept cases low in the fall — are seeing numbers rise.

Boston College, for example, set a new record on Sunday for most cases in a week, with 95 cases among students.

The college, like some others, said the blame fell on students, specifically freshmen, who have not been following safety rules. The situation means further restrictions, such as a no-guest policy or the premature closure of campus, could be on the table if things don’t improve, Michael Lochhead, acting vice president for student affairs, said in an email to students.

“This rise in cases is a direct result of students letting their guard down with respect to pandemic health precautions,” he wrote. “The pattern of cases clearly demonstrates that many students are ignoring the basic health and safety protocols that allowed us to remain in-class and in-person on campus during the first semester.”

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