Arizona State University Reports 323 Coronavirus Cases In 3 Days

PHOENIX — Arizona State University announced late Monday that over 300 new coronavirus cases have been positively identified since Friday, according to an update from the school.

ASU reports that 323 students tested positive for the coronavirus, just three days after it last reported positive cases. That brings the total of infected students to 775. There are currently 28 cases among staff. The results are from over 40,000 tests taken since Aug. 1. ASU started back for the fall semester Aug. 1 with some classes available in-person.

Comparatively, the entire state of Arizona recently reported 507 new cases and 15 deaths.

"ASU has also worked with housing developments where large numbers of ASU students reside to communicate our expectations for conduct and behavior, including the fact that parties and large gatherings that violate public health guidelines are prohibited," the university said in a statement.

The update said more than half of these cases are off-campus. About 323 students are in isolation on the Tempe campus, however. Some students are in isolation on the downtown Phoenix and West campuses as well. There are currently no known cases on the Polytechnic campus in Mesa.

ASU is now rethinking its housing to "de-densify higher risk living configurations." This means restricting outside visitors and increasing security, among other measures. Those who violate university housing rules, which warn against gathering in groups and encourage wearing face coverings, could be removed from the dorms.

President Michael Crow has said that any students gathering in large groups could face suspension.