As a way to curb the spread of coronavirus among students, schools in China, Hong Kong, Australia, and Italy have shut down schools. On March 1, six public schools in the state of Washington announced they would be shutting down until further notice. With only 4 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the state, a private Kentucky college has announced that it will be ending its academic year over coronavirus fears. Is the president of Berea College overreacting, or is he making the right decision?
The Lexington Herald Ledger reports – Berea College President Lyle Roelofs, announced Tuesday that the private college in Madison County will end the academic year Friday and send students home out of concern over the coronavirus.
“Concluding, after careful analysis, that it will not be possible to adequately assure student and employee safety in the circumstance of a case of COVID-19 occurring on campus, we have decided that the College will cease instructional activities as of the end of the day on this Friday, March 13,” Roelofs said in a letter to the college community.
Berea spokesman Tim Jordan said there were no cases reported on campus and the action was being taken “out of an abundance of caution.”
Kentucky officials provided an update Monday evening on the coronavirus and said the state now has six confirmed cases.
Gov. Andy Beshear said the first coronavirus patient in Harrison County was an employee at the local Walmart in Cynthiana. Beshear said the patient’s condition is improving.