As of September 27, KAIST has recorded a total of 58 COVID-19 cases. In September, 13 new cases have been reported in the Daejeon campus. The 57^th case marked the fifth case by chain transmission within the KAIST campus. The sudden rise in cases comes with the spread of the delta variant in Daejeon, especially in university areas. 

On August 28, all students living in Areum Hall (N19) were instructed to take the COVID PCR test after the 43^rd and 44^th confirmed cases were found to have travel routes in the first and second floor of Areum Hall. All students tested negative. This was the first time that widespread testing in student dormitories was carried out. The traveling routes of the latest confirmed cases included the student dormitories Seongsil Hall (N17) and Areum Hall (N19), Academic Cultural Complex (E9), East Cafeteria (E5), KAIMARU (N11), and Lotteria (N13-1). KAIST members with the same traveling routes or are experiencing COVID symptoms are urged to take a PCR test and self-isolate until the results come out. 

Provost and Executive Vice President Seung Seob Lee announced that KAIST will implement the highest level of social distancing, Level 4, from September 6 until further notice regardless of city quarantine safety rules. This entails the prohibition of any offline gatherings and use of multi-use facilities, implementation of all online classes, and recommendation of flexible working hours and working from home in laboratories. Furthermore, classes on September 24 and 25 were cancelled for the prevention of the spread of COVID-19 after the Chuseok holiday. Free mobile PCR testing stations will operate on campus from September 27 as well. In addition, KAIST is encouraging all members to get vaccinated and will conduct a vaccination survey soon in order to assess the possibility of an offline Spring 2022 semester.