USC to start refunding students whose lives have been affected by coronavirus fallout
The University of South Carolina said it will begin to refund students who have been affected by the fallout of the coronavirus pandemic.
Students will get prorated refunds for meal plans, parking permits and on-campus residential housing, USC spokesman Jeff Stensland said Wednesday in a news release.
The refunds will cover the span from March 16, the first day the campus was closed following spring break, through the end of the semester, according to the release.
The students are getting money back for services they never received or were unable to use, because of the rising number of cases of COVID-19 across South Carolina.
What is not included in these refunds is money spent on tuition, academic fees and student support fees, based on a decision from the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education (CHE), according to the release.
The university has not said when students will be able to return to campus to retrieve their belongings in residence halls.
The university will begin processing refunds immediately, so most students can expect to have their accounts credited on or before April 22, USC officials said.
Fraternities and sororities are responsible for any refunds for students who lived in on-campus Greek housing and meal plans, it said in the release.
Information was not available on parking refunds for faculty and USC staff, but the university is working on those details, according to the release.
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MOREWhat you should know about the coronavirus
What is coronavirus?
Coronavirus is an infection of the respiratory system similar to the flu. Coronaviruses are a class of viruses that regularly cause illnesses among adults and children, but this outbreak has spawned a new disease called COVID-19, a particularly harsh respiratory condition that can lead to death.
Health officials believe COVID-19 spread from animals to humans somewhere in China. It spreads among humans by physical person-to-person contact, including via coughs. That’s why health officials urge sick individuals to avoid contact with other people.
For more information, visit the website for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms are similar to the flu and include fever, coughing and shortness of breath.
How can I stop the spread of the coronavirus?
Wash your hands regularly with soap and water, and cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.
If you develop symptoms similar to the coronavirus, you should seek medical attention. Stay home from work or school and avoid contact with others. It can take up to 14 days after coming into contact with the virus to develop symptoms.
COVID-19 is a new condition and there’s much about the disease we still don’t understand. For now, taking precautions is the best way to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
Several University of South Carolina students have tested positive for COVID-19.
A student living in a on-campus residence hall tested positive for the coronavirus on March 20, USC officials said. That student and 17 others residents of the building have been placed in quarantine.
Additionally, 11 other students and one faculty member, living in other states or off-campus, tested positive for COVID-19, according to USC.
On Tuesday, 158 new cases of the coronavirus were reported in South Carolina, bringing the statewide total to 1,083 confirmed COVID-19 cases in 41 counties, according to DHEC.
DHEC also announced that four more people died after testing positive for the coronavirus, raising that total to 22 in less than a month. State health officials described 21 of the people as elderly, one person was middle-aged, and all but two had underlying medical conditions.
There have been 4,616 negative tests at DHEC’s public health laboratory.
DHEC is encouraging people to practice social distancing to help stop the spread of the virus. Social distancing is staying away from unnecessary interactions with sick people and from large groups of people; it also calls for remaining at home unless it is absolutely necessary to go out.
Because of the mandates, USC postponed commencement that had been set for May. It has tentatively been rescheduled for Aug. 7 and 8.
Symptoms of coronavirus can include a fever, coughing, and difficulty breathing, according to the CDC. Among the emergency warning signs of COVID-19 is trouble breathing, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, and blueish lips or face, the CDC said.
The best way to prevent infection is to frequently wash hands for 20 seconds; avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth; avoid contact with sick people and clean frequently touched objects with a cleaning spray or wipe, according to the CDC. DHEC also recommends covering your cough, staying home when sick, and disposing tissues and other items that you’ve sneezed or coughed into.
Free online screenings also can be accessed by all South Carolina residents, by going to scdhec.gov/COVID19.
Prisma Health is also offering free access to medical professionals for those who think they may have coronavirus, The State reported. People experiencing COVID-19 symptoms can go to https://www.prismahealth.org/virtual-visit/ and schedule a free online visit, Prisma officials said.
As of Wednesday morning, 873,767 people worldwide have been diagnosed with coronavirus and 43,288 people have died, while 184,771 recovered, according to Johns Hopkins University. The United States leads the world with 189,633 people who have been diagnosed with the novel virus. In the U.S. 4,081 deaths have been reported, including 1,096 in New York City, according to Johns Hopkins.
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MOREThis is a breaking news story
In a breaking news situation, facts can be unclear and the situation may still be developing. The State is trying to get important information to the public as quickly and accurately as possible. This story will be updated as more information becomes available, and some information in this story may change as the facts become clearer. Refresh this page later for more updated information.
This story was originally published April 1, 2020 at 1:33 PM.
