UPDATE: On Friday, August 13, the Orange County Health Department confirmed to 97.9 The Hill this cluster of COVID-19 cases is linked to an outdoor event.

UNC has announced its first COVID-19 cluster for the 2021-22 academic year, exactly one week before classes are set to begin on August 18.

According to a Carolina Together notification, the cluster of COVID-19 cases is related to an event in the Eshelman School of Pharmacy. There are currently 6 active cases in this cluster, though it is not clear if all the cases are in students or university employees.

A “cluster” is defined by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services as five or more cases that are deemed close proximity in location and/or are epidemiologically linked.

The university said the individuals in this cluster have been identified, are isolating and are receiving medical monitoring. The Orange County Health Department has also been notified and is working to identify additional potential exposures.

From August 1 to August 11, 54 students and 28 employees have tested positive for the coronavirus. COVID-19 cases within the campus community will continue to be updated on the Carolina Together website every weekday.

Students who are not vaccinated for COVID-19 will be required to continue weekly COVID-19 tests within the Carolina Together testing program.  Additionally, the university announced beginning September 15, unvaccinated faculty and staff will also be required to test weekly in the program. Vaccinated students can complete optional asymptomatic COVID-19 testing.

Students who do not submit proof of vaccination for COVID-19 will also be required to complete a COVID-19 test at a Carolina Together testing site within 24 hours of arrival to campus – which was not a requirement for move-in last fall.

Students will start moving in to residence halls and other on-campus housing beginning Thursday, August 12. More than 9,000 students will be living on campus for the fall 2021 semester

Last fall, students participated in in-person instruction for only five days before the university announced the move to virtual instruction.

Lead photo via Chichi Zhu/The Daily Tar Heel.

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