Texas State extends spring break, moves to remote classes

Texas State University will extend spring break for one week and move to remote courses through April 12 to enable social distancing measures on its campuses in response to growing COVID-19 concerns, university President Denise Trauth announced Thursday. 

Texas State will extend spring break for students through the week of March 27 and no classes will be offered on the San Marcos or Round Rock campuses from March 16-27. There are currently no cases of COVID-19 at either Texas State campus nor are there any confirmed cases in Hays County.

“Our top priority is the safety and health of our students, faculty and staff,” Trauth said in a statement. 

Texas State will begin conducting organized lecture, seminar and laboratory courses remotely on March 30 through April 12. The university said faculty members are encouraged to be flexible in meeting student needs. Faculty will notify students by March 25 with information on how the course will be taught. 

The university’s campuses and all offices will remain open during and following the spring break extension. Residence halls and dining services will be available for students on campus. Students who return to campus after spring break will be asked to follow social distancing and prevention practices recommended by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. 

Trauth said remote course delivery will end and in-person instruction will resume on April 13 unless the instructor provides other direction. 

All indoor university-affiliated events with an expected attendance of more than 200 people will be canceled from now until April 12. 

All university-funded international travel is canceled until further notice. University policy states that any person traveling internationally to countries with a CDC Travel Warning Level 2 or 3 will be required to self-isolate for 14 days before returning to campus. Those traveling to an affected area in the United States are required to call the Student Health Center at 512-245-2161 before returning to campus and may be asked to self-isolate for 14 days. 

Texas State joins universities throughout the state that are extending spring break, including the University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M University, Baylor University, Texas Christian University, Texas Tech University and the University of Texas at San Antonio. 

“We understand that the situation can be stressful but by working together and remaining calm, we can help slow the spread of the virus and its possible impact on our community,” Trauth said.

Infographic by Colton Ashabranner

What is COVID-19?

COVID-19 is caused by a member of the coronavirus family that’s a close cousin to SARS and MERS viruses that have caused previous outbreaks. The disease is caused by a virus named SARS-CoV-2 by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses. COVID-19 may take up to 2-14 days after exposure to appear. The disease can cause a wide range of respiratory illnesses, including fever, cough and shortness of breath, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The disease originated in Wuhan, China in late 2019.

• Total cases worldwide: 125,288
• Total cases in U.S.: 1,215
• Total cases in Texas: 23
• Deaths worldwide: 4,614
• Deaths in Texas: 0 

Sources: World Health Organization (WHO), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

• Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds several times a day, including between your fingers and underneath your nails. Handwashing is considered the best way to remove germs and dirt, and hand sanitizers should be used only when handwashing is not available. The hand sanitizers should be at least 60 percent alcohol to be effective. 
• Avoid handshaking and high-fives
• Avoid touching your face – especially your eyes nose, and mouth
• Stay home when you feel sick
• Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue then put the tissue in the trash, or use the crook of your elbow if a tissue isn’t available
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household disinfectant cleaning spray or wipe. Clean cell and desk phones, computer keyboards, door handles, and work surfaces often.
• Face masks are not considered an effective way to prevent someone from catching a virus unless you have close, frequent contact with a sick person; however, they are an option for sick people to use to keep from spreading the virus.
• Avoid travel to areas that have been designated high-risk areas because of multiple verified cases of coronavirus.