UC Berkeley to begin fall semester with remote instruction

SAN FRANCISCO -- The University of California, Berkeley will begin the fall semester with remote instruction as coronavirus cases surge in the San Francisco Bay Area, school officials announced Tuesday.

"The increase in cases in the local community is of particular concern. Given this development, as well as it being unlikely that there will be a dramatic reversal in the public health situation before the fall semester instruction begins on Aug. 26, we have made the difficult decision to begin the fall semester with fully remote instruction," officials said in a statement to faculty and staff.

"However, we continue our preparations to implement hybrid and/or flexible modes of instruction as soon as public health conditions allow," the statement said.

If previously approved in-person instruction returns later in the semester, students will not be required to attend classes in-person, they can continue to attend classes remotely through the semester, according to the statement.