DANBURY, Conn. (AP) - A spike in coronavirus cases in Danbury has promptedWestern Connecticut State University to temporarily move all classes online andbar students from returning to residence halls for at least two weeks. Nearly 900 students were expected to begin moving into dorms on Sunday, butschool President John Clark announced the new restrictions on Saturday. About 60 students who moved in early are being told to stay on campus for thenext two weeks, and commuting students must stay off campus, he said. WSCU had planned for some of its classes to be a combination of in-person andonline learning, but moved all classes to online-only for at least two weeksbecause of the new spike in virus cases. Classes will begin online on Wednesdayas originally planned. ``We understand that delaying the campus experience is inconvenient anddisappointing to students and their families, but it is our responsibility tofollow state recommendations to keep our students, faculty and staff as safe aspossible while doing our part to prevent community spread,'' Clark said in astatement. The state Department of Public Health issued a coronavirus alert for Danbury onFriday night due to what officials called a serious outbreak in the city. Nearly180 residents tested positive for the virus from Aug. 2 to 20, compared with 40who tested positive the previous two weeks. The state alert recommends that residents stay home, avoid unnecessary outings,limit indoor gatherings and avoid attending church services. About 4,500 undergraduates attend WSCU, most of them commuters.
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