This article was originally published by Jacob Scholl of the Idaho Statesman.
Northwest Nazarene University students will arrive on campus later this week, as orientation will begin for new students on Thursday and for returning students on Friday. Classes will start at the Nampa university on Monday, Aug. 31.
Students will be required to undergo a health screening prior to moving in, and will only be allowed to have two family members or guests during that process, according to a news release from the university.
Everyone on campus will be required to wear masks anytime they are outside their personal space, such as someone’s apartment, dorm room or office.
According to the university’s coronavirus guidelines for the fall semester, the majority of classes will be done in-person, though safety protocols will be followed in classrooms. Larger courses will be done with a blended approach, and only a “small number” of courses will be online, according to the university.
“We are excited to welcome students, new and returning, back to campus. We are committed to providing the excellent NNU education for which we are known, with certain necessary modifications,” university president Joel Pearsall said in a news release. “We are asking all students, faculty and staff to sign a Community First pledge promising they will uphold the safety precautions that we have put in place.”
Over Thanksgiving break, students will be encouraged to stay on campus in order to reduce the health risks associated with traveling. If students do choose to leave at Thanksgiving, they will complete the final two weeks of the semester and finals remotely, according to the university.
ADA PASSES 10,000 CASES; 8 COVID DEATHS REPORTED MONDAY IN IDAHO
In addition to nearly 200 new cases being reported on Monday, Idaho health officials reported eight new coronavirus-related deaths around the state.
Over half of the deaths were reported in North Idaho — three were reported in Kootenai County and two deaths were found in Shoshone County. Two deaths were found in Ada County and one new death was reported in Canyon. As of Tuesday, 315 people in Idaho have died because of the coronavirus.
Health officials reported 195 newly confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Monday. The state now has 28,064 confirmed coronavirus cases.
Ada County surpassed 10,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases, as the county reported 77 new cases on Monday. The county now has 10,021 cases. Canyon County reported 21 new cases, bringing its total to 6,472 confirmed cases as of Monday.
Multiple Idaho counties reported double-digit new cases Monday, including Bannock (10 new), Bonneville (15), Kootenai (11), Latah (15), and Nez Perce (11).
The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare also reported 43 new “probable cases” on Monday, bringing that total to 2.081. State health officials also report that 238,014 coronavirus tests have been conducted, and around 11.8% of tests have come back positive.
Coronavirus cases have been confirmed in all of Idaho’s 44 counties: Ada 10,021, Adams 24, Bannock 566, Bear Lake 37, Benewah 90, Bingham 396, Blaine 577, Boise 44, Bonner 196, Bonneville 1,292, Boundary 42, Butte 4, Camas 2, Canyon 6,472, Caribou 33, Cassia 517, Clark 13, Clearwater 20, Custer 17, Elmore 220, Franklin 49, Fremont 89, Gem 184, Gooding 175, Idaho 38, Jefferson 266, Jerome 507, Kootenai 2,058, Latah 183, Lemhi 49, Lewis 7, Lincoln 56, Madison 176, Minidoka 491, Nez Perce 222, Oneida 15, Owyhee 264, Payette 503, Power 103, Shoshone 183, Teton 104, Twin Falls 1,442, Valley 75 and Washington 242.
Community spread has been found in the majority of Idaho counties: Ada, Bannock, Bear Lake, Benewah, Bingham, Blaine, Boise, Bonner, Bonneville, Boundary, Canyon, Caribou, Cassia, Clark, Clearwater, Custer, Elmore, Fremont, Gem, Gooding, Idaho, Jefferson, Jerome, Kootenai, Latah, Lemhi, Lewis, Lincoln, Madison, Minidoka, Nez Perce, Oneida, Owyhee, Payette, Power, Shoshone, Teton, Twin Falls, Valley and Washington.
