UNC reports coronavirus clusters in student housing at Ehringhaus Community and Granville Towers

Within a week of the resumption of classes, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has reported two clusters of coronavirus cases in student housing.

Posted 7:05 p.m. Aug 14, 2020 — Updated 4:01 a.m. Aug 15, 2020

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Within a week of the resumption of classes, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has reported two clusters of coronavirus cases in student housing.

Residents of Ehringhaus Community and Granville Towers have been notified about the cases in their living quarters and advised about next steps.

Granville Towers is a privately managed residence hall located near the northwest corner of campus, with community kitchens, study lounges, laundry rooms and fitness centers. With the exception of the fitness centers, shared areas have remained open to residents, but limited to 50% capacity.

The UNC-CH COVID-19 tracking dashboard showed Granville Towers at about 76% capacity through Aug. 10, with student housing on campus at about 61% capacity.

Ehringhaus Community, on South Campus, is a six-story residence hall for first-year students. Most live in four-bedroom suites.

Overall, for many student it's concerning, especially considering that classes started on Monday. Others said it was only a matter of time, and they aren't surprised and suspect more cases will soon follow.

“I am worried about the possibility of being sent back home, especially being an out-of-state student. I’m hoping for the best, but I’m preparing for the worst," said Ehringhaus resident Van Adamson-Thompson.

“It’s not surprising that they are experiencing these clusters, considering that you have a lot of kids coming back now and they’re sharing living spaces, communal kitchens, communal bathrooms," said Orange County Community Relations Director Todd McGee.

A cluster is defined as five or more cases in one location. At UNC-Chapel Hill, that means there are at least 10 coronavirus cases in the two dorms.

Students described the campus atmosphere as chaotic -- many getting tested to err on the side of caution, but saying the setup was not efficient.

“When I make an appointment on my phone, I don’t expect to show up to a line of 15-plus students out the door of the building," said Payton Tysinger, a UNC-Chapel Hill student and WRAL News contributor.

The university said those who tested positive for the novel coronavirus "have been identified and are isolating and receiving medical monitoring." University and Orange County health representatives are working to trace and notify anyone who may have been in close contact – within 6 feet for 15 minutes or more – with one of the infected people.

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