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UNC takes precautions against COVID, monkeypox as students return to campus

Move-in day begins Wednesday at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as some of the first college students in the Triangle return to campus for the fall semester.

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By
Keenan Willard
, WRAL eastern North Carolina reporter
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Move-in day begins Wednesday at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as some of the first college students in the Triangle return to campus for the fall semester.

Like other universities and institutions, UNC is dealing with two public health concerns -- coronavirus and monkeypox.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday confirmed 114 cases of monkeypox in N.C., although there are likely many more cases.

As thousands of students return to campus in the coming days, UNC will work to limit the spread of monkeypox by identifying symptoms, testing and recommending the vaccine for those eligible. UNC has been approved by the state to give out the monkeypox vaccine on campus.

When it comes to COVID-19, the school says masks are optional in university buildings but required in health care settings. Incoming students also won’t be required to test or tell the school if they’ve been vaccinated.

UNC's new guidance asks students to report any positive tests to campus health.

Experts on campus told WRAL News coronavirus continues to look more infectious than the more recent monkeypox outbreak.

“The answer is it should be some concern," said Dr. David Weber with UNC Health. "But it should be put in perspective of mild self-limited disease, you know, an uncommon disease at the moment, one that requires prolonged person-to-person direct skin contact. So I don't think this is going to be a serious threat even for college students.”

UNC move-in runs through Sunday.

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