LAWRENCE, Kan. — It's the first week of classes for University of Kansas students as they embark on a semester during a pandemic.
KU officials ordered nine Greek houses to have its members self quarantine if they live inside.
-Pi Kappa Phi
-Phi Gamma Delta
-Kappa Kappa Gamma
-Gamma Phi Beta
-Delta Delta Delta
-Alpha Chi Omega
-Sigma Nu
-Beta Theta Pi
-Pi Beta Phi
On Thursday, Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health said it removed two Greek houses, Kappa Alpha Theta and Phi Kappa Psi, from its quarantine list after determining members who tested positive do not live at the chapter house.
41 Action News spoke to the president of one of those on the list, Beta Theta Pi President Nick Kneibert who says they were proactive, "We had placed ourselves under a quarantine just because of the number of positive tests that we had seen and kind of spreading around to guys."
While at the fraternity, Kneibert contracted the virus so he's at home doing his classes virtually in the Kansas City area.
"My roommate who is our Vice President tested positive and he left and then two days after he moved out I started feeling bad with a fever," Kneibert said.
According to KU, as of Tuesday afternoon 222 people tested positive out of 19,452 entry test results received, for a positivity rate of 1.14%.
The overall positivity rate among members of the Greek community was 5.47%.
Kneibert said in a setting like a fraternity or sorority, he can see how quickly COVID-19 can spread, "The way our house is laid out living in there, once one or two guys get it, it's pretty tough to avoid it, at least a few others from getting from it."
The self quarantine order has the support of several students 41 Action News spoke with on Thursday.
"I think that’s smart, I mean they are all in close proximity and I think with student housing it’s going to be similar but I know with Greek life they’ve been partying with one another and stuff like that so I think that’s a smart call to go ahead and quarantine," KU student Patrick Sullivan said.
"I think that the response to the Greek organizations and everything I think it was fair," KU studen Tyreasha Huff said.
Several other Greek house presidents told 41 Action News they are adhering to the order and are looking out for the safety of their members.
