NC State and UNC begin spring semesters with COVID-19 policies in place

Monday is the first day for classes at several local colleges, including UNC Chapel Hill, but not everyone will be back on campus.

Students in the Schools of Global Public Health, Information and Library Science and Social Work will spend the first three weeks learning remotely.

Professor Justin Lessler contributed to the internal document that WRAL obtained, which includes rough estimates that nearly two thirds of the student body could contract the virus in the next month.

Report: UNC-Chapel Hill estimates at most 1,650 new infections each day when classes resume

"We find that a substantial portion of the student population is likely to be infected over the course of the omicron wave and that will result in a fair number of undetected cases. The number of detected the cases will be a lot lower," said Lessler. “These numbers that we're seeing for campus, they’re not unusual. It’s not like those aren’t similar number to the numbers we're sitting in the general population in North Carolina.”

The report projects infections will peak 14 to 25 days after the start of the semester.

North Carolina State University also starts its spring semester on Monday. Vaccines aren't required there, but anyone who isn't vaccinated or is living on campus will need a negative COVID-19 test before returning.

At N.C. Central University, which resumes in-person classes Monday, students are required to wear KN95 masks.

Duke University already started classes, but because of the virus, is staying fully remote until at least Jan. 18.