Coronavirus outbreak cancels classes, field trips in NC
Duke University is moving all on-campus classes online until further notice as because of the new coronavirus outbreak as other schools brace for impacts from the virus.
Classes "will transition to remote instruction" and use videos and other platforms for all undergraduate, graduate and professional schools, Duke President Vincent Price said in a statement Tuesday.
Spring break for undergraduates will be extended to Sunday, March 22, with remote classes beginning March 23. The university said students who were out of town for spring break should not return to campus.
"This was not an easy decision to make and came only after reviewing the range of options available in light of the rapidly changing situation in North Carolina, and nationally," Price said. "The goal is to minimize situations in which members of our community might be exposed to those who have COVID-19, and to protect our students, faculty and staff who might be at elevated risk."
Some students weren't sure how their classes would translate remotely or where they would spend the rest of the semester.
“It’s pretty scary,” said Sophia Parvizi-Wayne, who is in Mexico for spring break but is from London. “Everything is coming to a standstill.”
On Monday, leaders at Campbell University and Shaw University told WRAL News that they were preparing to move on-campus classes online if the coronavirus outbreak worsened.
Primary and secondary schools across central North Carolina are also altering plans to prevent the virus's spread.
Private K-12 school cancels classes after parent tests positive
Trinity Academy, a K-12 Christian school of about 400 students in north Raleigh, canceled classes and other activities Tuesday after a parent tested positive for the coronavirus, COVID-19.
Head of School Timothy Bridges said the school has made no plans for the rest of the week.
"At this point, while the Wake County Health Department did not advise that we close school, and they have emphasized that the risk to our students remains minimal, I have decided, out of an abundance of caution, to close school for Tuesday," Bridges said in a letter to parents and staff Monday night. "The purpose of this closure is to allow time for our staff to gather information, consult with health care professionals and implement plans that will work well for our community."
Bridges said in an email Tuesday that administrators also were speaking with environmental health officials about the best way to sanitize the school to eliminate the virus.
The school was mostly empty Tuesday, but workers from Servpro, a professional cleaning firm, walked in and out wearing protective suits.
It was unclear if the parent was among the five Wake County coronavirus cases announced Monday involving people who attended a conference in Boston.
Bridges said the parent is following guidelines issued by public health officials and is isolated at home. The person's children also are quarantined, Bridges said.
"The safety of our families is a top priority," he said. "Please keep the affected family, and all families affected by this virus, in your prayers."
Field trips canceled for Wake, Cumberland students
The Wake County Public School System announced Tuesday that all school field trips and employee travel are canceled to minimize the potential spread of the virus. District officials said they are "evaluating all future school events that attract crowds" and will announce decisions on whether they will proceed, be postponed or canceled in the coming days.
Superintendent Cathy Moore said making that decision was difficult.
“We know that there is an investment of time and resources that have been made with regards to the plans that have been made for these trips, and we know that it will cause some hardships,” she said.
Officials didn't say whether families would get refunds for money paid for canceled field trips.
Jim Luke, a parent of a senior at Millbrook High School and a chorus booster, said his daughter's choir was scheduled to go to Indianapolis for a national festival.
“The kids were just devastated,” he said. “They’ve been working so hard, really looking forward to this.”
“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime thing for a lot of the students,” he added.
Cumberland County Schools also canceled all field trips and staff travel outside of the county, although travel to sports competitions in North Carolina can continue. Other in-state competitions will be handled on a case-by-case basis, officials said.
