Hotel rooms in high demand for social distancing to be observed

Two universities and a college in Boston, Massachusetts, want to rent hotel rooms to help students maintain social distancing when they return this fall.

Northeastern and Suffolk universities and the New England Conservatory of Music have filed proposals with the city authorities to use part or all of several hotels for student housing, classroom space, and dining and office areas for faculty and staff members.

Northeastern University, which has about 14,000 undergraduates, is looking to use nearly 600 rooms at two hotels, limiting occupancy to two students per room.