Ethan Maglione
Staff Writer
Due to growing concerns, it has been said around campus that the University of Wyoming is considering going fully online after spring break.
This is the product of a task force the university has assembled to assess and combat the growing threat of the coronavirus, also known as COVID-19. The task force has deemed traveling during spring break to be considered a health risk, as it not only increases the chance a student will catch the virus, but it is also a very serious possibility the disease would be brought back to Laramie.
“There have not been any confirmed cases in Wyoming, but it’s going to get worse before it gets better,” said UW President Niel Theobald.
Even without students traveling, there is still a good chance the virus will get to Laramie due to the rapidly growing number of cases and the recently declared state of emergency.
“Given the number of Colorado residents at UW, a spike in cases in Colorado is very pertinent,” said Theobald.
While the university will take the appropriate steps to protect the student population, it may also be a smart idea to take personal measures to avoid catching the virus. While some say they feel they are unable to do anything to prevent the virus, some feel all they have to do is wait and let the situation blow over.
“Nah, It’s not going to hit Larime that hard or at all, so I’m not too worried,” said Paulina Rose, a UW sophomore.
Moments like the one that we are currently in are crucial in both prepping to live comfortably in a viral outbreak situation, and in preventing it all together.
“The virus that causes COVID-19 seems to be spreading easily and sustainably in a community where it is thought that for every 1 person that is infected, potentially 2 other people can get the infection if they do not protect themselves with simple preventive measures,” stated Cone Health, a non-for-profit series of hospitals in North Carolina.
That being said, what can a person do to protect themselves from the coronavirus? According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), there are a few simple ways for people to protect themselves.
Washing one’s own hands may seem simple, but washing hands for at least 20 seconds can help prevent the coronavirus, as it can last from two hours to nine days on surfaces. This means that it is possible to catch the virus from a surface that other people have been in contact with.
“I’ve been keeping up with [the coronavirus]. [It] makes me a bit nervous so I’ve kind of tried my best to eat healthy and make sure I wash my hands constantly,” said Joana Louisiana, a UW sophomore.
If a student is sick or believes they have the virus it is important for them to stay at home to prevent spreading the disease. During mild cases, the body is able to fend off the disease itself, meaning self quarintening it is possible to recover from the infection. It is also important during a self quarantine, if a student is living with roommates or family, that the student should find a specific room to stay in as to prevent spreading the infection to those who they are living with.
The CDC recommends that if someone is in close contact with the infected on a regular basis, they should wear a respirator or a N95 surgical mask. However due to the limited supply of masks, it is stressed they should only attempt to acquire them if they are absolutely necessary.
“A shortage of specialized masks has prompted federal health officials to loosen their recommendations on the face protection that front line health-care workers should use to prevent infection from the highly contagious disease caused by the novel coronavirus,” stated The Washington Post.
Given the fact the university is actively working towards preventing the coronavirus from appearing on campus, there is probably a very little chance we will see the virus on campus. However, having students take measures to prevent the spread of the virus if it were to appear is necessary to ensure public health and prevent an outbreak.
