1 Week After Reopening, Just 12 Active Cases At Merrimack College

NORTH ANDOVER, MA — Merrimack College has just 12 active coronavirus cases, more than a week after the school resumed in-person classes, North Andover reported Thursday.

The College went remote only Sept. 28, following a coronavirus outbreak at its Monican Hall dormitory. At that point, 88 active cases were linked to the virus.

With new cases falling, in-person classes resumed Oct. 7 and the outbreak appears to have remained under control. The college reported just 13 positive tests from Oct. 6 to Oct. 12, and the town reported Thursday that the college accounted for only 12 active cases.

Outside of the college, there are 12 other active cases. Forty-four residents have died and 523 have recovered from the virus, bringing the total case count to 591.

The town remains a high-risk community that is barred from moving forward with reopening, under state rules. To further reopen, North Andover will have to go three weeks with fewer than 8 average daily coronavirus cases per 100,000 residents.

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.