CU Boulder Students Begin 14-Day Self Quarantine

BOULDER, CO — The University of Colorado Boulder has enacted a self-quarantine recommendation issued by county public health officials Tuesday. All CU students who live in Boulder have been asked to self-quarantine for 14 days. University staff and faculty are exempt from the recommendation.

Students "should not leave their residence unless it is for work, class, or getting food to take care of children or parents, or medical attention (including to get tested) that cannot be provided remotely," the county stated in a notice.

In a news conference Wednesday morning, Boulder County Public Health representatives and university officials outlined their plan to combat the spread of the virus. CU Boulder has seen a spike in cases, which has driven up not only the county's overall numbers but also the statewide counts. As of Wednesday, 441 cases have been reported at the school since Aug. 24.

Patrick O'Rourke, CU Boulder's interim executive vice chancellor, said the university is not trying to "shame" students with COVID-19 guidelines, but rather educate them about what is at stake.

"It's an exercise in treating [students] like adults and communicating the expectations we have for them," O'Rourke said.

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CU Boulder Chancellor Phil DiStefano and Dan Jones, the associate vice chancellor for integrity, safety and compliance, issued a joint letter to the campus community Tuesday.

"We are writing with an update and an urgent request. We need to stop the recent rise in positive COVID-19 cases immediately by wearing face coverings, avoiding gatherings of more than 10 people, practicing physical distancing and staying home when experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms," the letter read.

The majority of new cases have been among students living off campus, university officials said. Large gatherings have been reported, and photos show many students not adhering to social distancing guidelines or wearing masks.

Anyone who hosts or attends a gathering that doesn't adhere to public health guidelines — on or off campus — faces probation, sanctions and even suspension, officials warned.

"The next several days are critical for us to avoid more stringent restrictions on our campus operations. We need more students to do their part and follow public health guidelines at this important moment," DiStefano said in a statement.

Boulder County Public Health has also partnered with Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to bring a free walk-up testing site to Boulder, which opened Wednesday, and a drive-thru site in the "very near future," officials said.

Any Boulder County resident or CU student who is interested in being tested is encouraged to visit the testing site. An appointment is not required, there is no cost for the test and residents do not need to have COVID-19 symptoms to be tested, officials said. Residents should bring a form of identification in order to ensure test results are accurately recorded. Full details, including hours and location are available here.