Pitt students told to shelter-in-place after 40 COVID-19 cases since Friday

PITTSBURGH — A shelter-in-place order is in effect at the University of Pittsburgh after at least 40 confirmed cases of COVID-19 since Friday.

The university moved to its Elevated Risk Posture Monday. The shelter-in-place order was moved up, having originally been scheduled to start on Nov. 12, ahead of Thanksgiving break.

School officials said they believe the rise in COVID-19 cases is linked to gatherings that took place over the Halloween weekend.

During the shelter-in-place, students should only leave their rooms or apartments to attend classes, labs or clinics in person; to pick up food; to exercise safely; to study in the library; to work when necessary; and shop for essentials.

Campus dining will be takeout-only with breakfast service. Residence hall lounges, recreation rooms and kitchens will be closed. Group work should be done virtually.

“I think the coronavirus is much more serious than, say, the flu. I think it’s definitely worth taking seriously, not only for the symptoms at the time, but also just there are still effects that linger after you’ve been infected. Really, I don’t want to experience those effects,” Benjamin McCutchan, a Pitt freshman, said.

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