Counties where colleges and universities opened for in-person classes in the fall encountered a significant surge in the incidence of COVID-19 cases, suggests a new study from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Within three weeks of colleges or universities opening to in-person classes, counties with these institutions saw a 56% rise in incidence, stated a CDC-led research team. The incidence was found to decrease by 5.9% in counties without universities and by 17.9% in the countries where the universities conducted remote classes. Additionally, it was noted that counties where universities held in-person classes had a higher likelihood of being identified as COVID-19 "hotspots" at least once, in comparison with the countries where universities conducted remote classes and those without universities… (CNN, January 7, 2021)