University of Alabama plans to stay open after Spring Break, issues travel advisory because of new coronavirus
Published 8:28 am Wednesday, March 11, 2020
The University of Alabama has no plans to close due to the current outbreak of the new coronavirus.
“The University has no plans of closing canceling courses or moving to online-only courses after Spring break,” UA officials posted on its website.
“Our campus has a number of comprehensive plans to address emergencies and a variety of contingencies. We continuously review and keep those plans updated.”
The University of Alabama has had no suspected cases of coronavirus and had not been notified of any people on campus with the virus, officials said.
Spring Break for the university is March 16-20.
The University has already canceled all college-sponsored international travel scheduled to depart in March, including faculty-led study abroad programs scheduled to leave during spring break.
The school, in an email sent to students and their families, released a set of guidelines for students to follow during the break.
“The UA System advises against any non-essential domestic travel, particularly to large conferences or to states or locales that have declared a State of Emergency or Public Health Emergency due to the virus,” the email states.
The school has specifici instructions for student who travel to or have traveled to high-risk areas of the world.
“Those who travel to a CDC COVID-19 Level 2 or 3 country (on personal or University business) or have been in close contact with anyone diagnosed with COVID-19 are required to contact the Alabama Department of Public Health, remain away from the UA campus and other large gathering places, and self-monitor for 14 days after leaving the affected area,” the email states.
The school also recommend students pay close attention to their health.
“If you have concerning symptoms during the break, please contact your family physician or other primary care provider. As a reminder, it is flu and cold season. It you haven’t already received a flu shot, it’s not too late to get one before spring break. Also, take general precautions such as frequent hand washing to prevent the spread of any virus, including seasonal flu, which is still active across Alabama and the U.S.”