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(WWJ) The number of cases of the coronavirus tripled at Central Michigan during the first week of classes.
Numbers posted on the university's website show there were 54 new cases at the Mount Pleasant confirmed on campus last week, bringing the number of cases at CMU to 79.
Officials believe large social gatherings are to blame, after video posted to Twitter over the weekend showed hundreds of students pouring out of a party at the Deerfield Apartments.
"Our investigations have shown that many individuals that have tested positive live with several roommates or have attended large social gatherings," reads a release by the Central Michigan District Health Department. "If you have been to a large party or social gathering or live in a setting that makes spatial distancing difficult, either affiliated or non-affiliated with a registered student organization since returning to the Mt. Pleasant community, CMDHD encourages you to monitor yourself for symptoms of COVID-19 and consider getting tested."
Due to these concerns, the Isabella County Health Department announced Monday it will limit outdoor gatherings in Mount Pleasant and Union Township to 25. Indoor gatherings are already limited to 10. under the governor's emergency orders. Similar measures were taken in other college towns in Michigan, including parts of Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti and East Lansing.
In a message posted on the CMU website, Associate Vice President for Student Affairs Tony Voisin said the university will immediately fine, or even suspend students who host or attend these parties.
"Without fail, at other institutions nationwide, large weekend parties have resulted in an increase in positive COVID-19 diagnoses — and in some, the shutdown of their entire campuses. The actions of a few selfish students have ruined an entire year for thousands of their peers. The same will happen here at CMU if students continue to engage in this type of reckless, irresponsible behavior," Voisin wrote.
"CMU’s Fired Up for Fall plan, which is based on guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, outlines our expectations and rules. You all know the right things to do: Limit the size of your get-togethers, wear a mask and practice social distancing. It is impossible to ask you not to socialize, yet I must ask you again to do so responsibly. You are adults, and we expect you to take responsibility for your actions. Remember: What you do matters.
"Your choices carry repercussions for everyone at CMU, and we expect more from our students. Please, choose wisely."
This comes as some college in Michigan are welcoming undergraduates to campus, while others tell them to stay home.
Monday morning, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer told WWJ she's "skeptical" about in-person college classes this fall — just before Eastern Michigan University announced it is delaying move-in for students living in residence halls until September 17 and transitioning nearly all fall classes to online-only through September 20.
Michigan State University announced last week the school was also abandoning plans for a hybrid model, and would go remote-only for at least the fall semester.
All of this comes as the case count continues its daily rise in Michigan.
Monday afternoon, the Michigan's Health Department reported 868 new confirmed cases of the coronavirus. That pushes the statewide total to more than 97,000. Four additional deaths were reported Monday, meaning nearly 6,400 Michigan residents have died as a result of COVID-19, according to the state.
Believe you may have been exposed? Testing locations can be found by visiting www.michigan.gov/coronavirustest or by calling 211.
For CMU students and staff, the university health department has a coronavirus message center. Call 989- 773-5921 extension 1444, leave your name, phone number, county of residence and a message, and staff will call you back.