DANE COUNTY, Wis., (SPECTRUM NEWS)- Health Officials in Dane County are addressing a recent spike in COVID-19 cases. Over the past week, they have seen more than 1,200 new cases, linked in large part to the return of students and staff to the UW Madison campus. 

Earlier this week Dane County executive Joe Parisi wrote a letter urging university administrators to send students home for the semester. 

Instead, the university canceled in-person classes for two weeks and ordered students in two dorm buildings to quarantine. 

Director of public health of Madison and Dane County Janel Heinrich was asked if she thought students should be sent home. During a press briefing, she said whether they remain on campus or head home, each scenario presents health risks. 

“There is no good answer to this. Lots of people living in congregant living facilities will increase and potentially hasten the spread of illness amongst this population which may have an impact on the future and our community, but returning them home has the risk of introducing illness into their own home communities which is something to be considered as well," says Heinrich 

UW Madison and Dane County are not the only places experiencing county-wide increases in COVID-19 cases tied to the return of students to college campuses. 

Wednesday health officials in Eau Claire County said they have seen a record number of new cases since the start of September, with around 50% of those cases tied to the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire. ​