ALLENDALE, Mich. (AP) — Students at Grand Valley State University were ordered Wednesday to hunker down for two weeks due to a spike in coronavirus cases linked to the western Michigan campus.

There have been more than 600 cases of COVID-19 among students since Aug. 23, with the majority among students living off campus, Ottawa County health officials said.

The stay-in-place order starts today. Students must stick to their on-campus or off-campus residence unless attending classes, exercising, getting food, seeking health care or working at an essential job.

Students cannot return to their home community unless there’s an emergency.

“GVSU student interaction with the broader community greatly increases the risk of community disease spread which may result in serious illness or death,” said Dr. Paul Heidel, the county’s medical director.

“We need students to take the … order seriously and be vigilant to help stop the spread of COVID-19,” Heidel said.

GVSU athletes can practice sports if a doctor is present, though the health department is “strongly” discouraging it.