The number of positive COVID-19 cases on Northwestern’s campus increased by 67% this week, the second week in a row of rising cases. The campus positivity rate rose to 4.35% from last week’s 2.78% since the University suspended testing requirements for students three weeks ago. Students who have not completed all vaccination requirements still need.
Northwestern Student Affairs sent COVID-19 notices to students in some residence halls last week about heightened positivity rates on certain floors. Three residence halls received these emails, according to University spokesperson Jon Yates. Residents in the Ayers College of Commerce and Industry received notices on Wednesday, while those in Willard Residential College and Kemper Hall.
When Communication sophomore and former Shepard Residential College president Zach Forbes saw his residential college’s community service officer without a mask, he asked her to comply with Northwestern’s COVID-19 guidelines. He said he found her to be unresponsive to his requests.
Forbes, who fielded resident complaints that the officer made them feel unsafe, said he brought the issue to the Residential College Board and area council advisors.
After a short, unexplained hiatus from the dorm, the same officer was back a few weeks later without a mask, still unresponsive to requests that she wear a mask, he said.