As of Tuesday afternoon, 49 students at the University of Guelph tested positive for COVID, up 17 cases since Monday.
Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health declared an outbreak on campus last week and confirmed that the positive cases are connected to two social gatherings of approximately 50 people in total held in the East Village Townhouses on Jan. 15 and Jan 16.
Currently, 200 students are isolating.
The university says it has issued 46 fines to students who broke COVID-19 protocols on campus this year.
University spokesperson Deirdre Healey said the Campus Community Police issued $120 fines to 32 students in connection with the unsanctioned gatherings on Jan. 15 and 16.
The remaining 14 students were fined for violating COVID-19 protocols on campus not connected to the gatherings.
Healey also said the penalties can range from the $120 fine to a fine of up to $1,000 and a recommendation of suspension by a Judicial Committee depending on the circumstance.
“We are also putting additional surveillance measures in place to enhance enforcement including additional security personnel patrolling the residence areas and monitoring the communal spaces within residences, installing security cameras along the perimeter of East Village Townhouses, and considering a curfew on campus,” said Healey in an email.
Healey said students are continuing to be tested either on campus or at the Guelph COVID-19 Assessment Centre.
