BYU-Idaho sent a campus-wide emailon Friday, urging students to follow coronavirus guidelines and mask requirements. The school also warned it could close down campus if infections don’t drop. As of Sunday, 56 students and 11 employees were infected.
The memo follows a 47% increase in infections last week in Madison County, where the university is located. As of Sunday, the county had 234 active virus cases.
That’s the second-highest number of current cases within the Eastern Idaho Public Health district. After the university’s email, public health officials issued a statement specifically pleading with Madison County to help slow the spread of the virus.
East Idaho News reports BYU-Idaho students have been holding gatherings in defiance of health mandates. The university says gatherings do not comply with guidelines and that students must wear masks and physically distance.
If they choose not to comply, they could face suspension or expulsion.
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