LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A group of University of Kansas students went on a strike from classes on Monday to protest the opening of the campus during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The University of Kansas held classes on Labor Day due to a modified academic calendar amid the pandemic, the Lawrence Journal-World reported.
The student organization Jayhawker Liberation Front publicized the strike in tandem with a petition calling for the closure of campus due to the virus spread. They also want free exit testing for all students, shelter for students in need and hazard pay for essential workers.
Kansas health officials reported on Monday four new coronavirus-related deaths and 1,694 new cases of COVID-19 in the state since Friday. That raises the death toll from the pandemic in Kansas to 485 deaths and 46,914 known cases.
The state reported 181 clusters. Colleges account for 27 coronavirus outbreaks and 420 cases, but no deaths. Five school clusters account for 39 cases and no deaths, according to the health department.
Gov. Laura Kelly told reporters Monday that the state will be disclosing the locations of active outbreaks beginning Wednesday so that the public is better informed to mitigate the virus spread.
