PULLMAN, Wash. – A recent study from Washington State University in Pullman suggests that COVID-19 outbreaks during the fall 2020 semester were not caused by students returning to the community.

As students returned to college campuses across the United States in fall 2020, there were widespread fears that the virus would overwhelm local communities. However, the WSU study found that outbreaks during that semester were largely independent of student activities.

The study highlighted that mitigation efforts such as testing, social distancing, and mask-wearing were likely effective in limiting the virus’s spread.

During fall 2020, all WSU courses were conducted remotely and campus housing was closed, except for special exemptions. Despite this, many students returned to Pullman.

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