Winthrop University temporarily switching to remote classes amid coronavirus
Winthrop University is switching to online classes for a limited time following spring break due to coronavirus concerns.
There are no confirmed or presumed coronavirus, or COVID-19, cases on Winthrop’s campus as of Thursday morning, according to a release from the university’s critical incident management team.
Winthrop students will attend classes remotely from March 23 to April 3, the two weeks following spring break, reads a statement from interim president George W. Hynd. Winthrop faculty and staff are preparing now for remote lessons.
All university offices will remain open and staff will remain on campus, reads the statement. Winthrop has prohibited non-essential university business travel through the end of April.
Winthrop is working on recalling students studying abroad in European countries.
“While we have been in regular contact with them and know they are enjoying their experiences, there remains too much uncertainty in international travel for us to allow them to continue their experiences,” reads the statement from Hynd. “We are committed to assisting them on their return, and those wheels already are in motion. We will continue to monitor all of our students abroad and take action as appropriate.”
Winthrop also has canceled all university-sponsored events from March 15 to April 3. Athletics events will follow recommendations from the NCAA.
The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control said Wednesday a Lancaster County resident presumptively tested positive for coronavirus.
DHEC said in a release Wednesday afternoon that the Lancaster County woman tested positive for COVID-19 at DHEC’s public health laboratory. She is hospitalized and isolated, according to DHEC.
The Lancaster case was the 10th confirmed or presumptive positive case of the virus in South Carolina. The number of patients in the state has risen daily this week. Lancaster County is adjacent to Kershaw County, where seven of the 10 cases have been reported.
Presumptive cases are positive tests that still need to be confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. DHEC treats all presumptive cases as cases of coronavirus.
Coronavirus symptoms include fever, shortness of breath and cough. People should regularly wash their hands and cover their mouth when they cough, according to DHEC.
Anyone who develops symptoms of the virus should stay home from work or school and seek medical attention.
For more information, visit the DHEC website at scdhec.gov/COVID19 or the CDC website.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREWhat you should know about the coronavirus
The coronavirus is spreading in the United States. Officials are urging people to take precautions to avoid getting sick, and to avoid spreading the disease if they do contract it.
Click the drop-down icon on this card for more on the virus and what you should do to keep yourself and those around you healthy.
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.
This story was originally published March 12, 2020 at 12:24 PM with the headline "Winthrop University temporarily switching to remote classes amid coronavirus."
