NC State reports COVID cluster days before spring semester starts

North Carolina State University reported a COVID cluster related to the athletics department days before the spring semester begin.

Posted 10:38 a.m. Jan 14, 2021 — Updated 12:42 p.m. Jan 14, 2021

Kasey Cunningham

, WRAL reporter

RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina State University reported a COVID cluster related to the athletics department days before the spring semester is set to begin.

A cluster is defined as five or more cases that are deemed close in proximity or location. NC State's women's basketball team also had to postpone a scheduled conference game due to coronavirus concerns. University officials did not say if the cluster related to the athletics department was within the women's basketball team.

Students are slowly moving back to campus this week to start the semester all while North Carolina is reporting its highest coronavirus deaths, cases and hospitalizations. Students were sent home early last Spring as the number of coronavirus cases continued to rise on campus. But, university officials say they have a plan to "protect the pack" this semester.

On-campus housing will be open throughout the spring semester, and some undergraduate classes will be held in-person at NC State.

Students who live in the Greek Village are allowed to start moving back in on Thursday. The university will now require students living in the village to be tested weekly after a handful of coronavirus clusters were reported there during the fall semester.

Any student returning back to campus or planning on living within a mile of campus has to provide the university with proof of a negative coronavirus test.

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill also reported new coronavirus cases as students planned to return to campus. Seven students who had been living in Carmichael Residence Hall at UNC Chapel Hill over winter break tested positive for COVID-19.

University officials say classes will begin on Jan. 19 as planned.

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