The school year is off to a rocky start for at least two Triangle universities. Both have reported large COVID-19 clusters before classes have even begun – and one originated at an outdoor event.
Durham, N.C. — The school year is off to a rocky start for at least two Triangle universities. Both have reported large COVID-19 clusters before classes have even begun – and one even originated at an outdoor event. Two new clusters at Duke Two new COVID-19 clusters identified at Duke University involve 29 medical students and seven members of the women’s field hockey team. All were vaccinated, as Duke requires. Duke Vice President for Public Affairs Michael Schoenfeld says the cases were traced back to various indoor events in Durham. At least one was at a bar or restaurant, and others were in private homes. Schoenfeld says about half are asymptomatic. The others have mild cold-like symptoms. The affected students will isolate for 10 days, and contract tracers will identify and test people who made contact with the students. Duke has a strict indoor mask requirement. WRAL News asked whether the university is considering requiring masks outside or limiting gathering sizes.
