With the semester just getting underway for many universities across the country, some schools are already being forced to shift online or take other measures as a result of growing numbers of COVID-19 cases on campus.

This is even happening just about an hour north of Eastern at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. After a dramatic spike in cases, including a new single-day high of 230 cases on Aug. 31, the university is now asking students to refrain from all socializing for two weeks. This includes both large and small groups and most face-to-face interaction.

Perhaps not surprisingly, The Daily Illini reported there were more than 100 calls handled by the university over the past weekend concerning parties on campus.

We at The Daily Eastern News understand that it can be difficult to refrain from going to parties, especially after not being on campus for much of last spring.

But if we want to avoid the kind of heightened restrictions put in place at Illinois, we need to try our best to avoid attending parties on or off campus this semester. If students party and do not take proper preventative measures, we may have to limit our interactions even more than we have been already.

Remember to follow all social distancing protocols and wear your masks properly at all times. If you feel symptomatic or you may have been exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19, get tested.