UArizona planning to offer more in-person classes in 2 weeks

PHOENIX — The University of Arizona is planning to offer more in-person classes in two weeks, citing lowering coronavirus numbers on campus and in Pima County.

The institution said Monday in its weekly update that it plans to move to Stage 2 of reopening on Feb. 22, which would allow for in-person and flex in-person classes of up to 50 people.

“We’re pretty confident we can move forward slowly, watch the numbers and make sure in the classroom that we keep all these mitigation efforts in place,” President Robert Robbins said during a press conference.

UA began the spring semester on Jan. 13 in Stage 1, allowing for only essential courses to occur on campus.

Only about 3,900 of the 46,000 enrolled students were on campus at the start of the semester as a result.

Robbins said the move to the next phase would double the total students on campus.

Coronavirus case rates on campus and in the county have decreased since the mid-January start.

In the past week, the university administered 13,179 COVID-19 tests and saw a positivity rate of 0.52%. The statewide positivity rate was 12% last week, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services.

With low numbers, UA is also scaling back required weekly testing for on-campus students from twice to once.

After the move into Stage 2, the university will have one more option to bring more in-person instruction.

Stage 3, if reached, would allow for in-person and flex in-person classes of up to 100 people.

The university has said classes with more than 100 students will be delivered remotely for the entire semester.

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