UW-La Crosse expands 'Shelter in Place'

LA CROSSE, Wis. (CBS 58) -- As coronavirus cases grow on and off campus, UW-La Crosse announced it has extended the shelter in place order to all residence halls until Sunday, Sept. 27.

It begins at 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 13. Students are urged to not travel home during the two-week period and to stay where they are. 

The university requires face coverings on all campus property both indoors and outdoors. 

All in-person undergraduate instruction will be suspended on Monday, Sept. 14 and Tuesday, Sept. 15. It will resume remotely Wednesday and presumed in-person on Monday, Sept. 28. 

The university will also honor requests for students that wish to cancel their campus housing contracts. 

University of Wisconsin System President Tommy Thompson issued the following statement:

“Today's mitigation steps announced by UW-La Crosse Chancellor Joe Gow will combat the COVID-19 case increases we have identified on its campus. Moving to online course delivery for a two-week period while sheltering in place can be an effective tactic, as we have seen with other universities. 

Students must be vigilant to combat this virus. UW-La Crosse is engaged with local health officials to ensure the community's health is prioritized. We welcome their support and collaboration in these efforts.

Our rapid antigen tests are successfully identifying pockets of infection at a few campuses, and we will continue to take immediate and aggressive steps where this is the case.  At the same time, we are encouraged by results at other universities, and continue to aggressively monitor and respond to conditions with the health and safety of our students, faculty, staff and communities foremost in mind.”