South Carolina Greek groups, the news release did not specify which

 South Carolina Greek groups, the news release did not specify which.

The University of South Carolina has suspend several Greek Life organizations and students for violating COVID 19 safety rules, the school announced Monday.

Six fraternities or sororities — the news release did not specify which — and 15 students are facing suspension for “unauthorized parties or large gatherings in violation of local ordinances or violating quarantine,” according to a news release.

USC has placed several sororities in quarantine since the beginning of the school year, but this is the first time USC has publicly said it is punishing students or student organizations for violating coronavirus quarantine or for hosting parties, etc.

USC President Robert Caslen had warned that students who break coronavirus rules could face suspension.

The announcement comes as the number of cases on campus continues to surge past the 500 mark.

The university is also increasing efforts to test students and implement more quarantines. There are now nine houses in Greek Village that are quarantined, the release said. What’s more, wastewater testing results have shown spikes of coronavirus on campus. The university will be providing “mobile” saliva testing to identify more cases in suspected hot spots, the release said.

USC will hold walk-in testing for students at Davis Field on Monday-Friday from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Students experiencing symptoms can also get tested at USC’s Student Health Services.

Faculty and staff can get tested on Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. at 650 Lincoln.

USC consulted with the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control before implementing the additional testing and quarantine protocols, the release said.

Thus far, all of the student coronavirus cases have been relatively mild and none have required hospitalization, according to the release.