UNC students return to Chapel Hill with more testing
Many UNC students returned to Chapel Hill this week, even though the semester will begin with remote classes only. They're hoping more COVID testing will help avoid a repeat of last fall.
STATE LED INITIATIVE TO GET SHOTS IN ARMS. >>> THERE ARE STEPPING UP ITS TESTING EFFORTS AND IT IS SHOWING. 350 UNC STUDENTS AND EMPLOYEES HAVE TESTED POSITIVE FOR THE CORONAVIRUS. UNDER THE NEW PROGRAM, THE CAMPUS HAS RUN MORE THAN 13,000 TEST. ON AVERAGE, A STUDENT HAS RESULTS IN 24 HOURS. THEY ALSO IDENTIFIED 112 CASES.>>> DESPITE THOSE RESULTS, PEOPLE ARE RAISING THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT OFF-CAMPUS PARTIES AND COMMUNITY SPREAD. OUR REPORTER IS ON FRANKLIN STREET. THIS WEEK AND WILL BE THE FIRST TEST JUST HOW WIDESPREAD THOSE PARTIES MAY BE.>>> EVEN THOUGH CLASSES ARE STARTING ONLINE THIS SEMESTER, SO MANY STUDENTS ARE CHOOSING TO COME BACK TO TOWN JUST TO BE BACK WITH THEIR FRIENDS OR FOR CAMPUS RESOURCES. BUSINESSES TOLD ME THERE SEEING THAT INCREASE IN FOOT TRAFFIC. THE MAYOR SAYS SHE IS WORRIED ABOUT OFF-CAMPUS PARTIES AND SHE EXPECTS POLICE TO STEP UP ENFORCEMENT.>>> THEY ARE HOPING THIS HELPS MORE AND MORE STUDENTS. THEY SURVIVED THE PANDEMIC. THAT MERCHANDISE IS ALREADY MOVING OFF THE SHELF QUICKER. >> WE WERE FORTUNATE ENOUGH THAT WE WERE ABLE TO DO A LOT OF ONLINE BUSINESS AND DRIVE CUSTOMERS TO OUR WEBSITES. >>> THE RETURN IS CAUSING SOME RESIDENTS TO RAISE CONCERNS ABOUT THE CORONAVIRUS.>> THIS YEAR THE VIRUS WILL CONTINUE TO SPIKE IF STUDENTS CONTINUING WITH THESE PARTIES AND GET TOGETHER. THEY DO FREQUENT THE SAME BUSINESSES. >> THE MAYOR IS WORRIED ABOUT THOSE PARTIES AND SHE IS URGING STUDENTS TO RETHINK THEIR SOCIAL PLANTS. >> THEY WILL CONTINUE WITH ONLINE AND THAT IS NOT WHAT ANYBODY WANTS EITHER. >> STUDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN AVOIDING LARGE GATHERINGS.>> I AM NOT DOING IT JUST BECAUSE THE PANDEMIC.>> THE NEW TESTING STRATEGY REQUIRES ALL STUDENTS AND STAFF THAT COME TO CAMPUS TO GET TESTED AT LEAST ONCE PER WEEK. EVEN IF THEY ARE NOT EXPERIENCING SYMPTOMS. >> I FEEL CONFIDENT WE WILL NOT HAVE A REPEAT OF LAST SEMESTER WHERE THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE GOT SENT HOME. >>> WITH MORE TESTING AND FEWER GATHERINGS, STUDENTS ARE HOPEFUL IN PERSON CLASSES WILL RESUME.>>> THE PLAN AS OF RIGHT NOW IS TO RESUME A LIMITED NUMBER OF IN-PERSON CLASSES STARTING ON FEBRUARY 8. THOSE STUDENTS WHO DO TAKE IN PERSON CLASSES OR LIVE IN THE DORMS, THEY HAVE TO BE TESTED TWO TIMES PER WEEK. EVEN IF THEY'RE NOT EXPERIENCING SYMPTOMS. THEY ARE TAKING THIS VERY SERIOUSLY AND MUCH DIFFERENTLY