Colleges in Washington state must now provide COVID-19 quarantine facilities as cases spike, governor says

October 21, 2020October 21, 2020 WKXA

Samara Heisz/iStockBy JULIA JACOBO, ABC News

(NEW YORK) — Washington Gov. Jay Inslee has implemented a number of new protocols for universities as multiple campuses have seen spikes in COVID-19 cases.

The requirements include a limit of two people allowed in sleeping rooms, a limit of five visitors in one place — all of whom must be masked and socially distanced — as well as the provision of quarantine facilities at Greek houses, off-campus congregate houses and dorms.

More cases have been confirmed on campuses including the University of Washington and Washington State University, ABC Seattle station KOMO reported, including 601 cases at UW alone as of Monday.

“We’ve just got to get these spikes under control,” Inslee told reporters at a news conference Tuesday.

Washington state experienced the first wave of COVID-19 in the U.S. after a patient there tested positive in late January.

To date, there have been more than 99,000 confirmed cases in the state and 2,300 deaths.