BYU Confirms First Case Of COVID-19
Mar 23, 2020, 6:24 PM | Updated: 6:55 pm
PROVO, Utah — A Brigham Young University student has tested positive for COVID-19, officials confirmed on Monday.
University officials said the student has returned home and Utah County Health Department officials are conducting contract tracing and will notify those who were at-risk for exposure.
“To BYU’s knowledge, this is the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in our campus community who was studying or working on campus this semester,” officials said.
The off-campus property manager has also reached out to residents to inform them of the positive test result.
BYU officials said all in-person gatherings of 10+ people are prohibited on campus until further notice. This order also applies to any on- or off-campus gathering of BYU employees, officials said.
The university moved to online learning and postponed or canceled all public gatherings or events earlier this month.
Earlier Monday, state officials said the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases rose to 257. One death has been reported and 5,048 people have been tested.
Twelve cases had been confirmed in Utah County as of Monday afternoon.
BYU Offering Pass/Fail Option For Winter Semester
University officials also said faculty will submit standard letter grades for this semester and students can choose to keep that grade or move to a pass/fail system for each course.
Pass and fail grades will not affect GPA for this semester. “Pass” grades (A-C) will count as a passing grade and a completed academic credit while “fail” grades (D-F) will receive no credit.
The university also announced its withdrawal deadline has been changed to Tuesday, March 24.
Coronavirus Resources
- Have you or a family member been affected by coronavirus issues in Utah? KSL TV wants to hear from you. Contact KSL by emailing social@ksl.com.
- What is COVID-19? Here’s What You Need To Know To Stay Healthy
- What We Know And Don’t Know About The Coronavirus
- Four Common Coronavirus Questions Answered
- The latest coronavirus stories from KSL TV can be found at our Staying Safe: Coronavirus section.
- Your Life Your Health: How can parents prepare their home, children against coronavirus?
How Do I Prevent It?
The CDC has some simple recommendations, most of which are the same for preventing other respiratory illnesses or the flu:
- Avoid close contact with people who may be sick
- Avoid touching your face
- Stay home when you are sick
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue and then throw the tissue in the trash
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing. Always wash your hands with soap and water if your hands are visibly dirty.
- If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
The CDC does not recommend wearing a face mask respirator to protect yourself from coronavirus unless a healthcare professional recommends it.
How To Get Help
If you’re worried you may have COVID-19, you can contact the Utah Coronavirus Information Line at 1-800-456-7707 to speak to trained healthcare professionals. You can also use telehealth services through your healthcare providers.
Additional Resources
If you see evidence of PRICE GOUGING, the Utah Attorney General’s Office wants you to report it. Common items in question include toilet paper, water, hand sanitizer, certain household cleaners, and even cold medicine and baby formula. Authorities are asking anyone who sees price gouging to report it to the Utah Division of Consumer Protection at 801-530-6601 or 800-721-7233. The division can also be reached by email at consumerprotection@utah.gov.