January 1, Massive spike in COVID-19 cases at Duke University despite 98% vaccination rate

Duke University expanded its mask mandate to include outdoor areas on campus, following hundreds of COVID-19 infections among vaccinated students and faculty.

Officials said that 98 percent of students and 92 percent of faculty and staff are vaccinated. The remaining eight percent of employees have until Oct. 1 to get their shots, and Duke will fire those who don’t abide by the deadline.

“We want to be clear: the problem is not our people, the problem is COVID-19. Our Duke community has been extraordinarily united and resilient in fighting, and adapting to, this pandemic over the last 19 months,” university officials said in a notice. “And yet, we must continue to do more. This is a time to be prudent, to take care of ourselves and each other.”

Last year, the university saw only 241 positive cases during the entire fall semester.

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Virus cases among vaccinated students prompt Duke to widen mask mandate, tighten restrictions