AUSTIN – Two weeks ago, amid the global coronavirus pandemic, about 70 students from the University of Texas at Austin, Mexico celebrated the spring break. The students, all in their twenties, flew to Cabo San Lucas on a charter plane, and some returned to Texas on separate commercial flights.
Now 28 of them have tested positive for the virus and are self-isolating. Dozens of others are under quarantine and are being monitored and tested, university officials said on Wednesday.
The Austin outbreak is the youngest group of college students to ignore the social distance guidelines
The defiant stance was at a time when millions of Americans crouched at home and stayed away from school, work, and relatives embodied by Brady Sluder, a young man in the spring break in Miami, who explained in a widespread television interview on a crowded beach: “If I get corona, I get corona. At the end of the day, I won’t let myself be stopped from celebrating. “Mr. Sluder later apologized on Instagram.
In Austin, health officials from the city government and the university have contacted every young person on the charter plane about flight manifests from the disease control and prevention centers, authorities said. City health officials used the case to urge residents of all ages to stay at home and avoid unnecessary travel. Four of the 28 students who tested positive had shown no symptoms of the coronavirus.
“The virus often hides in healthy ones and is passed on to those at high risk of being hospitalized or dying,” said Dr. Mark E. Escott, the provisional medical director and health authority of the City of Austin and Travis County made a statement. “While younger people are at less risk of complications, they are not immune to serious diseases and death from Covid-19,” the disease caused by the coronavirus.
The university canceled classes on March 13 and resumed online classes on Monday.
“The incident is a very strong reminder of the importance of taking health warnings about the risks of Covid-19 seriously,” said J.B. Bird, director of media relations at the university.
The group of around 70 students left Austin Airport on March 14 and returned on March 19. The trip was organized by a company called JusCollege, which distinguishes itself as a “one-stop shop” for trips during spring break and for universities. From February 23 to April 10, you will find a list of events for “Cabo Spring Break 2020” on the company’s website. “Take over Cabo San Lucas with us for Spring Break 2020!” The list is. “Place your deposit to get the best prices.”
The Austin TV station KVUE posted emails the company sent to the students in the days before the trip to reassure them that the spring break was still ongoing and was still safe.
One of the emails the company sent on March 3 said, “We believe that our travel destinations are currently among the safest and most enjoyable places in the world to visit.” March 12, the company wrote, “We are currently in our second week in Cabo and have had nearly 5,000 travelers, all without problems.”
In a statement later published on the JusCollege website, travelers were told that the remaining spring vacation will be postponed to a later date in 2020. “We strive to develop solutions that connect people, provide security for our community and at the same time preserve our thirst for adventure,” was the company’s statement.
David Montgomery reported from Austin and Manny Fernandez from Houston.