Some colleges go back to virtual classes after surge in virus cases

A surge in coronavirus cases has some colleges rethinking in-person classes as students prepare to come back to campus. 

The state Department of Health and Human Services reported a single-day record of more than 19,000 cases on Friday. The previous record was 18,571 cases in January of last year.

The rapid spread is attributed to the omicron variant. Colleges across the state have taken notice. 

Many students are scheduled to return next week, but not all of them will be in classrooms. Duke University officials have told students classes will be held remotely until January 18, and University of North Carolina at Charlotte has postponed in-person teaching until January 24. Charlotte's athletic department also says attendance will be limited at home sporting events until January 24 to a “small number of participants' family members.”

At the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the individual deans of the departments will make decisions on how classes will be taught. Students there are scheduled to return next Monday.

Appalachian State University says there are no current plans to move in-person courses online.