As college football season heats up, football conferences loosen their health restrictions, and the CDC releases a new study showing increasing COVID-19 cases among college-aged people, Surgo Foundation has released a new analysis showing six college communities that it warns are especially vulnerable to a COVID-19 outbreak: University of Oregon/Lane County, OR; Rutgers University/Middlesex County, NJ; Clemson/Pickens County, SC; University of Louisville/Jefferson County, KY; University of Virginia/Albemarle County, VA; and University of Washington/King County, WA.
“We see a real danger zone in these six communities, with converging factors that increase the risk of COVID transmission to people who are at risk for severe illness,” said Sema Sgaier, co-founder and executive director of Surgo Foundation. “Adding potential super-spreader events like football games and tailgate parties in communities that are already highly vulnerable to COVID-19 compounds the threat and warrants our immediate attention.”