COVID-19 cases reported at N.C. university fraternity house

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — Fraternity members living in off-campus student housing for North Carolina’s flagship public university have tested positive for COVID-19, school officials announced on Saturday.

A cluster of cases, defined as five or more in close proximity, was reported at the Sigma Nu fraternity house, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill said in an email release. Those testing positive are being isolated and receiving medical monitoring.

The cases marked the third reported cluster since the semester began on Monday amid heightened health concerns about the coronavirus. Students moved into dormitories and are receiving a mix of in-person and remote instruction.

The other two clusters, announced on Friday, were in an on-campus dormitory and at Granville Towers, which is private student housing.

Contact tracing is happening in response to all three clusters, in which people who have been in close contact with infected students are identified to receive additional health guidance.

North Carolina’s K-12 school districts begin classes on Monday. About two-thirds of those students will begin the year with online instruction.

More than 143,700 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in North Carolina since the pandemic began, according to state health data. More than 2,300 people in the state have died from the virus and 1,032 people with the virus are currently hospitalized, the Department of Health and Human Services reported Saturday.