Fitchburg State University announced on Thursday all classes will be conducted remotely during the first week of the spring semester.
The decision is meant to allow all students to get tested for COVID-19 before returning to the classroom, as the Omicron variant has pushed regional cases up nearly 300% over the holidays.
Residential students will begin rapid COVID testing on Monday as part of the check-in process, and will be asked to return home for a five- to 10-day isolation period if they test positive. Commuter students will be required to receive a test during the first week of classes.
The campus community received notice of the new restrictions on Friday.
Classes will begin on schedule starting Tuesday and run fully online through Jan. 21, per the announcement. In-person classes are slated to resume Jan. 24.
Along with a week of remote classes, Fitchburg State is requiring the COVID-19 booster shot, according to its announcement.
