Appalachian State University confirms 7 new COVID-19 clusters

BOONE, N.C. — Appalachian State University confirmed seven new COVID-19 clusters on Thursday.

The announcement comes days after a student at the university died from complications related to the coronavirus.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services said a cluster is defined as a minimum of five cases.

Below are the active clusters at the university:

• Five cases in White residence hall.
• Six cases in Eggers residence hall.
• Five cases in Summit residence hall.
• Five cases in the Living Learning Center residence hall.
• Five cases associated with the App State volleyball team.
• Eight cases connected with the Kappa Alpha fraternity.
• Four cases associated with the Delta Sigma Phi fraternity.

The university also said there are 19 new positive cases connected to the football team’s cluster. Officials said eight staff members and 11 students tested positive for the coronavirus.

The App State vs. Louisiana football game will not be played on Oct. 7, and officials are working to reschedule the game to later this year.

“I don’t want to get COVID. None of my roommates want to get COVID. I’d feel better if I was at home and not here surrounded by people who have been partying," student Katie Schwerer said.

Appalachian State said it is working to contact those who may have been in contact with an infected person.

Channel 9′s Dave Faherty was on the campus Friday and saw most students wearing masks. Masks are required not only on campus but in the common areas and stairwells of dorms.

“You know that you’re suppose to be wearing a mask and I have to report you for my job and student conduct contacts them," said student Inaya Mack, whose jobs it is to make sure students wear masks.

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Appalachian State has seen its number of active positive cases climb steadily over the last few weeks, rising to 187 students at this time. But the university said it is using less than a third of its quarantine space and that the positivity rate is below 5%.

“Our focus right now is on maintaining the safety and health of our students and we are going to do that every way we possibly we can while also encouraging and following our academic mission," said App State Spokesperson Megan Hayes.

At this point, more than 7,000 students have been tested.

The university will also have a free pop-up COVID-19 testing event on Oct. 3 in the Rivers Street Parking Deck from noon to 5 p.m. Students and staff will be required to show their AppCard.

Cox Media Group