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THE LATEST: Notre Dame Reports 19 Additional COVID-19 Cases

Justin Hicks/WVPE

NEW (Posted Aug. 23): 

Today, Notre Dame posted its latest COVID-19 statistics on its online dashboard. The figures from Aug. 22nd show that 19 new cases were reported. That brings the university's total number of cases to 408. 

PREVIOUS POST:

The latest update on Thurs., Aug. 20th to Notre Dame's COVID-19 dashboard indicates 75 more positive cases of COVID-19 have been detected.   Those new cases were reported on Aug. 19. The university now has a total of 304 positive cases. On Tuesday, Notre Dame's president announced classes were moving online for two weeks due to a sudden surge in coronavirus cases.

Credit Justin Hicks/WVPE
The view outside the Duncan Student Center at Notre Dame on Aug. 19, 2020.
Credit Justin Hicks/WVPE
A face mask on the Knute Rockne statue on Notre Dame's campus.

PREVIOUS POST (From Aug. 19): 

Less than one day after moving classes online to try and stop the spread of COVID-19, Notre Dame is reporting via its online dashboard that 73 new cases were reported yesterday. The university now has 222 positive cases in total. 

Tuesday the university's president, Fr. John Jenkins, announced classes would move online for two weeks. He said large social gatherings off-campus where masks and social distancing were not in use is believed to be a factor in the surge in cases. 

Today during Gov. Holcomb's weekly news conference, he and Dr. Kris Box were asked about the situation at Notre Dame.  When asked if there is concern that what happened at ND could happen at other campuses across Indiana, Box said, "I absolutely think it can happen."

She said it's a perfect example of what happens outside of the instruction setting affecting education. She noted how it was a big off-campus party that ND students attended and a lot of students got infected.  She says those are the risks and benefits students have to weigh as they head back to college campuses.

Gov. Holcomb said that Fr. Jenkins and Notre Dame made the best decision for students, faculty and campus personnel. He says "the key word here is making adjustments on the fly" in all walks of life. 

Holcomb offered "kudos" to Notre Dame for being thoughtful and thorough about how this process unfolds as the school tries to get the COVID-19 surge under control
 
As for Fr. Jenkins' comment that at first he wanted to send students home but he was dissuaded from doing that by consulting with the St. Joseph Co. Health Officer, Dr. Box says she thinks that was a good decision on Jenkins part. She said the St. Joseph Co. Health Department is "excellent" and has been actively engaged with Notre Dame from the beginning. 
 
"I think they came to a mutually good decision, not only for the health and safety of students but for faculty also," Box said. 

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