Frat house outbreak leaves 93 infected with coronavirus at University of Washington

A coronavirus outbreak at the University of Washington’s off-campus frat houses has left at least 93 students sickened with the illness, the school announced Friday.

Eighty-nine of the infected students at the Seattle school live on Greek Row, while the other four came into close contact with frat house residents.

“What is occurring north of campus provides lessons for students as they consider their return to campus this fall,” Dr. Geoffrey Gottlieb, chair of the UW Advisory Committee on Communicable Diseases, said Tuesday,  when the outbreak was first reported.

Gottlieb warned that in order to establish some semblance of “normalcy” — with socializing and attending classes — students must wear face coverings and practice social distancing.

“If we don’t, measures such as what are now required on Greek Row will be inevitable,” he said.

While the university’s official coronavirus count related to Greek Row is 93, the school’s student-led interfraternity council said 117 fraternity members residing in 15 separate houses have self-reported testing positive.

The university said it’s working to confirm the increased tally.