On Monday, Mount Vernon Nazarene University (MVNU) announced that it will be suspending in-person classes and extracurricular activities for at least one week as a result of 18 active COVID-19 cases on campus. As of Wednesday, MVNU reported four more active cases, with 102 “monitoring cases” in quarantine and 43 recovered and active cases.  

“After evaluating the number of positive cases and those in quarantine within the MVNU community, as well as the increase in cases in Knox County and the state of Ohio, MVNU has issued new campus protocols that allow us to take a pause to gain control of the spread of the virus,” MVNU’s website said. 

The restrictions will be in place through Monday, Oct. 26, at which point MVNU and Knox Public Health will determine how the University should proceed in the coming weeks.  

According to MVNU, in addition to the transition to remote learning, the cafeteria will serve takeout only, athletics will be suspended, the chapel will only be available online, the gymnasium will be closed and COVID-19 testing protocols have been activated, among other measures. Additionally, visitors, including MVNU students, will be barred from apartments and dormitories in which they do not reside. 

MVNU did not provide additional information regarding its increased COVID-19 testing procedures.

The University’s announcement coincides with an increase in COVID-19 cases throughout the county, state and nation. After days of record breaking cases, Ohio hit another COVID-19 case record Thursday, with 2,425 people testing positive that day in the state. Knox County currently reports 37 active cases, half of which are from MVNU.