ONEONTA, NY- SUNY Oneonta will move to remote learning for the remainder of the Fall semester following an outbreak of 389 COVID-19 cases and counting.

The outbreak began last weekend when just over 100 students tested positive for the virus. This came shortly after Governor Cuomo announced that SUNY schools would close for two weeks if there’s a COVID outbreak of over 100 students or five percent of a given campus population. The number of positive cases has jumped significantly since last weekend.

According to SUNY Oneonta’s COVID-19 dashboard, 389 students and staff members have tested positive since the beginning of the Fall semester.

The same weekend, five students and three campus organizations at Oneonta were suspended for hosting parties, according to SUNY Chancellor Jim Malatras.

After the initial two week temporary shutdown, the state deployed a COVID-19 SWAT team to SUNY Oneonta in an attempt to ramp up testing. Students were not required to be tested upon arrival.

Off-campus resident Grace Kinne says she had not been tested prior to her arrival in Oneonta. She left Oneonta last Saturday as a precaution for medical reasons.

“I have asthma that gets really bad when I am sick, so my Mom wanted me home right away,” said Kinne.

Full refunds will be issued for on-campus housing as well as additional allowable refunds for dining plans. Students who test positive will quarantine on campus until they are re-tested negative.