WCSU In Danbury Details Coronavirus Precautions

DANBURY, CT — Western Connecticut State University has announced steps it will take to keep students and faculty safe in the shadow of the new coronavirus.

WCSU officials announced on Saturday the school is cancelling all out-of-state athletic, academic and student club travel at least through spring break.

Students, faculty, and staff have also been directed to postpone, cancel, or adjust all campus events and meetings, other than classes, that are expected to have 100 or more participants through at least April 30.

"Although the university recognizes that this decision will cause hardship for many, we are acting with an abundance of caution and considering the safety of students and the public health implications of travel with this action. Specific guidance for those who will be cancelling university sponsored trips and events will be shared with coaches, advisers and department heads in the next two-days."

Additionally, WCSU officials are "strongly" discouraging all students, faculty, and staff from personal travel outside of Connecticut during spring break.

WCSU faculty and staff who do have travel plans have been advised to inform Human Resources and students inform Health Services in order that the school may assess the risk and provide guidance on when they can return to campus. Students and staff traveling to a region where there has been a high incidence of COVID-19 may be asked to self-quarantine for 14 days, officials have advised.

Connecticut had its first confirmed presumptive positive case of the new coronavirus disease Sunday. A Wilton resident between the ages of 40 and 50 is being treated at Danbury Hospital, according to Lamont. The patient likely was infected during a trip to California.

A New York State resident who is an employee at Danbury Hospital also tested positive for the disease as well as a community physician from New York who made rounds at Bridgeport Hospital.

There are 566 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the U.S. as of Monday morning with 22 deaths, according to John Hopkins University, which is monitoring data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other sources.

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