ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The University of Rochester's health service director is warning of a surge of COVID-19 cases at the River Campus and Eastman School of Music.

He says the increase in cases is unlike anything the university has seen during the pandemic and says the situation could lead to a pause on campus.

Director Ralph Manchester says the number of positive cases in the past two weeks is as much as the first two months of the fall semester.

Exposures are also leading to positive cases at a higher rate.

Manchester says a pause would happen if 100 or more positive cases emerged within a two-week period. A pause would mean all in-person courses would move online and student life would be mostly restricted to the dorms.