UT-Austin Extends Spring Break As Coronavirus Safeguard

AUSTIN, TX — The University of Texas at Austin will extend spring break for students by one week due to conerns over the new coronavirus threat, school officials announced on Wednesday.

UT-Austin President Gregory L. Fenves said on-campus classes will resume on March 30, adding the university will remain open during the extra break time.

“UT is committed to the well-being of our community members and slowing the spread of the coronavirus while also supporting our students’ educational goals and the needs of staff and faculty members and students during these challenging times,” Fenves said in prepared statement.

The move reflects the university's adherence to health officials' advice to practice "social distancing" to prevent the potential spread of the respiratory ailment now termed COVID-19 caused by a member of the coronavirus family that's a close cousin to the SARS and MERS viruses that have sparked outbreaks in the past.

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At last check, more than 25 cases of COVID-19 have been reported throughout Texas, including 14 in the Houston area. No confirmed COVID-19 cases have emerged in the state capital of Austin.

“Students who wish to return to campus as previously scheduled on March 23 will still be able to do so — residence halls, dining halls, health and counseling services and other facilities will be open,” Fenves added.

The precaution comes on the heels of a university suspension on all undergrate travel to countries with high levels of COVID-19 concentration. The move also follows a municipal ban on all large-scale gatherings of 2,500 or more attendees to mitigate potential spread of illness.

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Fenves ended his message on an empathetic note in pointing to the inconvenience of changed plans amid the growing COVID-19 threat: “I know this is not the spring break we had expected,” Fenves said. “I am aware that many of you have had to change your plans, and I appreciate the resiliency you have shown throughout these difficult weeks. We must all come together as a community to make the semester as productive as possible.”

UT-Austin joined a long list of Texas universities extending Spring Break amid the growing COVID-19 threat. The Texas Tribune reported other schools of higher learning to take the measure on Wednesday include Trinity University in San Antonio; University of Houston; Baylor University in Waco, Texas; Prairie View A&M University located in its namesake city; Texas A&M University-San Antonio; and the University of Texas at San Antonio.