Olivet College moves all classes online as COVID-19 cases rise on campus

OLIVET — As COVID-19 numbers rise at Olivet College, classes will temporarily transition to online-only, the college announced Friday. 

The college has 17 active COVID-19 cases and 95 people currently quarantined and being monitored by the health department, according to a news release from the college. 

Classes will be remote for at least 14 days, beginning Monday, the college said in a news release. Students can remain on campus during that time. 

More: What the on-campus experience at Olivet College looks like during COVID-19

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A student was recently exposed to COVID-19 through a person off-campus who had tested positive for the virus, according to the college. Additional positive and probable cases were identified through contact tracing. 

“We are grateful to these individuals for their candor and cooperation with contact tracers," Ryan Shockey, Olivet College chief pandemic response officer, said in the news release. "Thanks to the information they shared, our community can quarantine the appropriate individuals, we can all learn from this situation, improve our ability to take swift action to protect others, and prevent this from happening again."

All high and moderate risk activities have been temporarily suspended, as have all large social gatherings and co-curricular activities and practices. Meal service locations have been expanded and assigned, and dining-in options are suspended. 

No visitors, including family, are allowed on campus. 

Olivet College is keeping track of cases online at www.olivetcollege.edu/covid19. 

Contact reporter Kara Berg at 517-377-1113 or kberg@lsj.com. Follow her on Twitter @karaberg95.