Forty-four out of a group of 70 students at the University of Texas who returned from a spring break trip to Mexico have tested positive for the CCP virus.
A group of about 70 students, all in their 20s, decided to hang out in Cabo San Lucas in defiance of safety measures such as social distancing and others concerning the spread of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly referred to as the novel coronavirus, which causes COVID-19.
The group departed on March 14 and returned on March 19. Initially, 28 students had tested positive; a feat that alarmed UT health authorities and prompted them to do further testing. Another 16 members of the group tested positive on Wednesday, resulting in 44 of the 70—or nearly two-thirds.
“We’re concerned about the COVID-19 pandemic and a spike in the number of positives in our student body,” the UT leader board announced on Twitter. “Longhorns, take this matter seriously, do your part, social distance and follow all public health guidelines,” it said.
We’re concerned about the COVID-19 pandemic and a spike in the number of positives in our student body.
Longhorns, take this matter seriously, do your part, social distance and follow all public health guidelines: https://t.co/7nQEUytduX
— UT Austin (@UTAustin) April 2, 2020
“The university is working closely with Austin Public Health to assist in contact tracing,” said J.B. Bird, UT Austin director of media relations & issues management, Fox news reported. “The incident is a reminder of the vital importance of taking seriously the warnings of public health authorities on the risks of becoming infected with COVID-19 and spreading it to others.”
The affected individuals are said to currently be self-isolating, The New York Times reported. The outlet also reported at least four of the students didn’t show any symptoms, which may lead to the assumption that younger people don’t need to worry about safety measures because they remain unaffected.
“The virus often hides in the healthy and is given to those who are at grave risk of being hospitalized or dying,” Dr. Mark E. Escott, the interim medical director and health authority for the city of Austin and Travis County, said according to the newspaper. “While younger people have less risk for complications, they are not immune from severe illness and death from COVID-19.”
“While Mexico at the time of their travel was not under a federal travel advisory, Austin-Travis County residents should follow CDC’s travel recommendations indicating travelers avoid all non-essential international travel. A leisure vacation of any kind is not considered essential,” officials said, according to WGN9.
