Ball State University has seen positive COVID-19 cases more than double over the weekend after the first week of in-person classes.  Officials are still reaching out to students to ask them to help stop the spread.

Between university dashboard updates on Thursday night and Sunday night, total positive cases more than doubled, from 231 to 495.  That includes tests done through a university-IU Health partnership and positive tests self-reported to the Muncie school.

View the Ball State University COVID Dashboard

On Monday, Ball State President Geoffrey Mearns posted a video on health and safety with Student Government Association President Connor Sanburn.

Besides calls to physically distance and wear masks around others, Mearns and Sanburn encouraged students to visit with friends over online video chat and eat  food to go from local businesses instead of dining in indoor restaurant spaces.  Mearns says the university will increase to-go food options in its dining halls for students.

Sanburn offered advice for those in communal living, like not sharing dishes and sanitizing common areas.

“Maintaining six feet distance from anyone, even in your home or apartment, and especially with your roommates, too.  Because sometimes we don’t know, necessarily, where they’ve been during the day.”

On Friday, Mearns sent out an email to students, saying COVID transmission was coming from mainly off-campus activities.  He asked students to “change their behavior,”  Otherwise, he threatened to temporarily or permanently suspend on-campus courses.