Transmission on campuses in Europe mirror similar trends in the United States and around the world. Several major U.S. universities, including Notre Dame and the University of North Carolina, had to delay or cancel their plans for in-person classes in recent weeks, amid surges in infections.

Some European universities have opted to delay the return to in-person lectures, but policies and approaches vary substantially between countries and regions. In some European countries, college students are especially likely to live at home or return home most weekends, increasing the risk of intergenerational transmission and geographic spread.

In Germany, where the beginning of the winter lecture period is still a month away, most universities are preparing for a hybrid model, mixing virtual lectures with in-person seminars in smaller groups. They are seeking to avoid the criticism that has been directed at French universities, where students complained about overcrowded lecture halls after in-person teaching resumed.

A key concern among officials is the challenge campuses pose for thorough contact tracing, given the large number of …continued .
[Source: Washington Post]