With COVID surging, Michigan State University tells students to stay home

With COVID-19 spreading through residence halls and test positivity rates triple the state average, Michigan State University is asking students to stay in their dorm rooms or apartments.

The “enhanced physical-distance directive,” sent in a letter to students Saturday, will be in effect through Feb 13. The University of Michigan announced a similar directive last week that runs through Feb. 11.

No cases of COVID-19 variants — some of which are believed to be more contagious — have been detected yet at MSU, according to university spokesperson Emily Guerrant. There were 14 variant cases identified at the University of Michigan as of Wednesday.

MSU officials cited rising test positivity rates in its residence halls as the reason for the directive. The higher the rate of people testing positive, the broader the spread of the virus is likely to be.

Read more: https://www.bridgemi.com/talent-education/covid-surging-michigan-state-university-tells-students-stay-home