BYU Urges Students To Be Cautious Of COVID-19 Over Labor Day Weekend
Sep 5, 2020, 9:59 AM
PROVO, Utah – Ahead of the Labor Day weekend, Brigham Young University officials urged students to take all COVID-19 precautions and restrictions seriously and do their part to help “maintain an on-campus experience.”
“We’re concerned w/ reports & videos circulating about off-campus activities,” read a statement circulated through the school’s social media channels. “Behavior this weekend could make or break our ability to remain on campus.”
The statement noted that the school had 40 cases of COVID-19 reported in its campus community which have been connected to on-campus and off-campus gatherings.
3/ We have 24 students in Helaman Halls who were exposed to COVID-19 at a gathering where physical distancing wasn't maintained. These students were instructed to quarantine. We'll continue to ask students to quarantine if they attend gatherings where they may have been exposed.
— BYU (@BYU) September 4, 2020
In one case, the statement said 24 students at Helaman Halls were exposed to the novel coronavirus at a gathering where social distancing was not maintained.
“Non-compliance issues will continue to be addressed through local areas of campus and the Dean of Students Office,” the statement read. “As we move into this long weekend, please be wise and follow all safety requirements on campus, and follow all city and county mandates off campus. Please compassionately encourage your friends and roommates to do the same.”
Students KSL TV spoke to on campus Friday said they were trying to do their part.
“I like to think of this as me protecting others — like older people, my grandparents,” said Brooke Mashburn.
Benson Merrill said he believed the increase in numbers at the start of the school year was to be expected.
“I don’t think it’s any indication that the procedures aren’t working,” he said. “It’s just that the university can’t enforce what’s going on outside of campus.”
Robert Peterson said he believed students and everyone else can always do more to help reduce the spread of the disease.
“I do think that any other way we can just be careful I think is good,” Peterson said.
BYU’s statement discouraged people from shaming and bullying others.
“Let’s work through this together, with compassion,” the statement said. “We can still maintain an on-campus experience, if we can all do our part.”
7/ We condemn any kind of shaming or bullying surrounding compliance or non-compliance. Let's work through this together, with compassion. We can still maintain an on-campus experience, if we can all do our part.
— BYU (@BYU) September 4, 2020
