As Coronavirus Cases Rise, Future Of Semester Uncertain At SHU

FAIRFIELD, CT — As coronavirus cases continue to increase at Sacred Heart University, the specter of another online-only semester looms.

University President John Petillo took to YouTube on Monday to warn students about the importance of following virus prevention protocols. Also Monday, a community update posted on the school’s website reported cases had been identified in a total of four dorms. A week ago, all on-campus cases were contained to a single residence hall, which was placed under quarantine after a student's positive virus test was mislabeled and the illness spread.

“We as a university are at a critical point in our fight against the virus,” Petillo said. “We are seeing too many positive COVID cases among students, particularly those living in off-campus housing.”

As of Monday, Sacred Heart had 18 on-campus cases and 81 off-campus cases, with 28 students recovered from the virus and out of isolation. While the majority of students have complied with pandemic protocols, “a significant number” are not taking the virus seriously, Petillo said.

Some off-campus students in Bridgeport’s North End have failed to wear masks or socially distance when attending house parties or going out to restaurants and bars, according to the university, which in a community message Sunday reminded students that safety protocol violations are subject to disciplinary action. Students living in Bridgeport were banned from campus several weeks ago due to a spike in cases among off-campus students. A future quarantine, or even a switch to full remote learning for the rest of the semester, is not out of the question for students residing in the North End, the message said.

Petillo urged students to stay home as much as possible, limit social contact to roommates and suite mates, and wear a mask and practice social distancing around anyone else.

“I know these requests may seem unreasonably harsh, but again, we are at a real point of decision about the future of the semester on ground,” he said. “We need to turn the tide and get the spread of the virus under control.”

Some Sacred Heart students have already decided to switch to full-time online learning, Petillo said, and parents have begun to push for a move to remote instruction.

“Do you want to still be on campus going to class, participating in club or extracurricular activities, and having team workouts?” Petillo asked. “Or do you want to be at home with online learning?”