The University of Washington has announced that a coronavirus outbreak in its Greek community increased to more than 160 students since last week.
As of Monday, there were 163 confirmed COVID-19 cases among 12 fraternities and sororities, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer reported.
University officials have urged students to isolate if they have tested positive or are experiencing symptoms. Students who had close contact with infected peers have been encouraged to get tested, officials said.
It is unclear if anyone was hospitalized or has experienced severe symptoms.
Seattle and King County Public Health Department's Dr. Jeff Duchin said last week that it is likely many students with active social lives have come from nationwide to return to in-person classes.
The outbreak has shown the difficulty of returning to campus during the pandemic, he said.
Health officials have urged people for months to take precautions against COVID-19, including wearing masks and social distancing. Officials have also warned people to continue to be vigilant as cooler weather will likely mean more time indoors, which could further facilitate the spread of the virus.
“We know what works, we have steps that we can take to prevent transmission and we can get through this with more or less impact on our community,” Duchin said.
The number of infections is thought to be far higher because many people have not been tested, and studies suggest people can be infected with the virus without feeling sick.
For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some — especially older adults and people with existing health problems — it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death.
