Chrissy Ewald
News Editor
The Willamette University [COVID-19 Dashboard] reported seven new cases for the week of Jan. 16 to Jan. 22, 2022. The Salem campus reported six cases, four of which were students and two of which were employees. The Portland campus reported one student case. These new cases bring the total case count on the Salem campus since Aug. 1 to 133 and on the Portland campus to 10.
During the university’s quiet period, in which most classes and student activities were held remotely to slow the spread of COVID-19 on campus, the number of cases has declined each week. The first week after most students returned to campus, the campuses reported a combined total of 43 cases. The next week, the combined total was 18, a decline of 25 cases. This past week, the combined total was seven, a decline of 11 cases. Classes across the College of Arts and Sciences and PNCA will resume in-person instruction, Goudy Commons’ seating area will reopen, and student organizations that have been remote are allowed to resume meeting in-person starting Monday, Jan. 31. The Gender Resource and Advocacy Center (GRAC), the Writing Center and the Bistro are also reopening.