Clemson going with online only classes as coronavirus cases continue to rise in SC

Clemson University became the latest college to make significant adjustments because of the coronavirus.

Clemson will move to online only classes through the end of March, President Jim Clements said in a news release.

Clements said the decision was made to keep “students, faculty, staff and our community safe,” as COVID-19 continues to spread.

The move to online only classes is for all students, including undergraduate, graduate and Bridge courses held on the main campus in South Carolina’s Upstate region, and at Clemson facilities across the state, according to the release.

In less than a week, there have been 10 confirmed or presumed cases of COVID-19 in South Carolina, according to the Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC).

As of Thursday morning, there were no known coronavirus cases on Clemson’s campus, the university said.

Clemson did monitor a possible case of coronavirus on campus earlier in the week, but the potential COVID-19 patient’s test came back negative, the university said.

That person is not a student and is not hospitalized, and is currently in self-quarantine at their off-campus residence, according to Clemson.

Once spring break is completed, online classes will begin at Clemson, and are currently set to run through March 30, according to the release.

Although classes will be virtual only during that time, the campus will stay open and remain operational, university officials said. This includes housing, dining and health care, among other student services.

That said, Clements is encouraging students to remain at home or away from campus as as part of an effort to reduce the campus population.

“Students do have the option to remain on campus during spring break or to return to campus following spring break,” Clements said. “I know how much we all value the Clemson experience including the sense of community that we have and the physical connection with our campus, but we must think about the health and well–being of the entire Clemson family.”

Clemson’s decision comes a day after the University of South Carolina made a similar move on its campuses, including the main campus in Columbia.

USC extended spring break and extra week, canceling all classes and events through March 22. USC will also conduct all classes, from March 23 to April 3, online.

Clements said Clemson leadership and emergency personnel will continue to monitor the rapidly changing situation on a daily basis, and will alert students and others about further developments via email, the university’s website and social media channels.

Of the 10 presumptive positive coronavirus cases in South Carolina, two have been confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — one in Camden, and one in Charleston, state officials said. The others have been tested by DHEC and are awaiting confirmation by the CDC.

Both of those who have confirmed cases of coronavirus are “stable,” state epidemiologist Dr. Linda Bell said.

Seven of the 10 cases reported in South Carolina are in Kershaw County.

“We now have evidence of community spread that’s likely to be causing these initial cases in Camden in Kershaw County and the risk of spread to other communities is possible, as seen in other states across the country,” Bell said. “We are working with the CDC and state and local officials to limit community spread while continuing with our protocol for identifying travel-related cases in the state.”

As of Thursday, 127,863 people worldwide have been diagnosed with coronavirus and 4,718 people have died, according to Johns Hopkins University. In the United States, 1,323 people have been diagnosed with the novel virus.

Symptoms of coronavirus vary from mild to severe and include coughing, sneezing and shortness of breath, according to the CDC.

The best way to prevent infection is to 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.

It does not matter whether the water is hot or cold, Bell said.

Prisma Health is 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.

The U.S. Surgeon General has urged members of the public to avoid buying protective masks because they are ineffective at preventing coronavirus, and buying them saps vital resources for health officials who need them.

This is a developing story, check back for updates.

This story was originally published March 12, 2020 at 12:55 PM.

Noah Feit

The State

803-771-8435

Noah Feit is a Real Time reporter with The State focused on breaking news, public safety and trending news. The award-winning journalist has worked for multiple newspapers since starting his career in 1999. Support my work with a digital subscription