Local colleges plan for worst case scenario

Schools are gearing up to re-open nationwide.

But, considering colleges like the University of Texas at Austin reporting more than 400 cases before the semester begins, local colleges are considering worst case scenario.

THANKS FOR STICKING WITH ME FORFOX FOUR NEWS AT 6-30- I AM JANEMONREAL.SCHOOLS GEARING UP TO RE-OPEN.AND HERE AT FOX 4 WE’RE LOOKINGAT WHAT SAFETY MEASURES THEY’RETAKING TO GET STUDENTS SAFELBACK TO SCHOOL.

AS SOMEUNIVERSITIES REPORT HUNDREDS OFCOVID-19 CASES... LOCAL COLLEGESCONSIDER A WORST CASE SCENARIO.FOX 4’S RACHEL LOYD’S LOOKINGINTO THE PROCESS OF SHUTTINGDOWN A COLLEGE CAMPUS IF THATHAPPENS HERE.:52 - :58FLORIDA SOUTHWESTERN STACOLLEGE SAYS "SHUTTING DOWN" ITHE EASY PART.

THEY ALREADY HAPLANS READY IF STATE OFFICIALSMAKE THAT CALLBUT IT’SASSESSING WHETHER OR NOT THEYHAVE AN OUTBREAK ON THEIR CAMPUSTHAT WOULD BE CHALLENGING.JUDGING BY THE MARKINGS ON THEGROUNDPLEXIGLASS SHIELDSANDSPACED OUT SEATSF-S-W IS READYFOR THE FIRST DAY OF CLASSES INA FEW WEEKAt this point I can tell you asof August 4th, about 40 percentof our classes are on campus.GREG TURCHETTA WITH FSW SAYSTHEY’RE FOCUSED ON "RIGHT NOW".Nobody knows what next week willbring, let alone next semester.BUT HE SAYS THEY’RE NOTOVERLOOKING WHAT COULD HAPPEN.

ANEW YORK TIMES SURVEY SHOWSSEVERAL COLLEGES ACROSS THECOUNTRY ALREADY HAVE A HUNPLUS COVID-19 CASES.UT AUSTINTOPPING THE LIST WITH 449 CASESREPORTED SO FAR.I ASKED TURCHETTA WHAT NUMBERWOULD REQUIRE FSW TO SWITCH BACKTO ONLINE LEARNING.It’s tough to say, this is thethreshold we would cross andmake that decision.

Because theother part of it is, we’reregulated by the state.

If thestate tells you to shut down,you shut down.

If the stattells you it’s okay to be opeyou go with your level ocomfort.HE SAYS IDENTIFYING AN OUTBREAKIS TRICKY CONSIDERING RESULTTAKE DAYS OR WEEKS IN SOME CASESTO COME BACKAND COULD TURN ONEGATIVE.What would we do as farshutting a building down, if wedon’t know if its even officiauntil 5-7 days later?IF A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OFSTUDENTS AND STAFF SHOW SYMPTOMSTURCHETTA SAYS THAT’S WHEN FSWWOULD REACH OUT TO THE FLORIDADEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO DO RAPIDTESTINGAND IF THEY DETERMINE ANOUTBREAKTURCHETTA SAYS THESCHOOL WOULD REVERT BACK TOONLINE LEARNING ONLY.(LLTAG)TURCHETTA SAYS FSW IS ALPREPARED TO HANDLE STUDENTCOVID-19 CASES ON AN INDIVIDUALEVEL.

THEY HAVE DESIGNATED DORMROOMS TO ISOLATE STUDENT