Public universities cannot mandate staff or student vaccinations - under Gov. “Vaccinations remain the safest and most effective way to prevent serious illness or death from COVID.” “What happens next is largely within the campus community’s control,” they wrote. Nearly 6% of COVID-19 tests came back positive - well below the state’s overall test positivity rate, but above the 5% threshold that suggests an outbreak is out of control.Īdministrators again urged students and staff to get vaccinated. Last week’s case numbers weren’t the only troubling metric at Boise State.
Case numbers surged during the fall, reaching a one-week high of 121 cases in mid-November. On Friday, Boise State reported 56 active COVID-19 cases, 53 involving students.Ī year ago, Boise State reported only eight cases during the first week of fall semester. Nonetheless, case numbers nearly tripled during that first week of classes. 23, with a mask requirement in place for indoor public spaces and crowded outdoor spaces.
The university’s warning came nine days after the start of fall semester - and nine days before Boise State’s first home football game of the season.Ĭlasses at Boise State began Aug. “If campus infection rates continue to increase, we likely will face temporary, rolling closures, which may mean shifting face-to-face classes online or to hybrid mode, suspending or cutting back some campus-based services, delaying or canceling large gatherings, performances and athletic events, and temporarily returning to remote work,” President Marlene Tromp and other administrators said in an email to the campus community.Ĭampus cases are on pace to exceed last year’s numbers, and students who are testing positive this fall are reporting more severe symptoms. Barely one week into fall classes, Boise State University administrators sent a stern warning Wednesday: Rising coronavirus case numbers could force the university to close down face-to-face classes and cancel campus events.