Binghamton University to resume in-person classes Thursday

The SUNY university center will continue to follow its weekly pooled surveillance testing of students, faculty, and staff reporting to campus, and Binghamton University will continue its enforcement of SUNY’s evidence-based COVID-19 safety guidelines.

Malatras, Stenger, and Broome County Executive Jason Garnar on Oct. 7 announced a two-week pause due to the campus exceeding the 100 positive case, state-mandated threshold. Following the pause, the campus worked to increase testing and enforcement of safety protocols to limit the spread of the virus and reduce the number of positive cases on campus.

Binghamton University is the second campus to resume classes following a precautionary pause. SUNY Oswego resumed in-person classes on Oct. 5.

“Binghamton University is the second SUNY campus to rebound from coronavirus cases, and it is thanks to students, faculty, staff, and partners within the larger community who understand the seriousness of the pandemic and are taking every effort to protect each other,” Malatras said. “Containing this virus is the result of extensive testing, contact tracing from the Broome County Health Department, and full compliance from our students. The students did a phenomenal job over the past two weeks. As Broome County Health Department and government officials continue to work to contain the virus within the county, we can’t let our guard down. As the fall continues, we will all need to remain steadfast in our efforts to keep campuses open and each other safe.”

Since the semester began, Binghamton University has conducted 16,367 tests for the coronavirus, with an overall positivity rate of 1.08 percent. The university required students to be tested before the start of classes.

“Our ability to quickly bring down the number of positive cases at Binghamton University took cooperation from everyone — students, faculty, and staff — who adhered to public health guidelines and committed to reducing contacts with others,” Stenger said. “I’m proud of our efforts as a campus community to quell the spread of the coronavirus and know that we are returning to in-person classes reenergized and ready to successfully complete our semester.”