YSU still plans to return to campus after Thanksgiving break

YOUNGSTOWN — Despite different plans at other Ohio universities, Youngstown State University expects to have students return to campus after Thanksgiving break.

Ohio State University and Ohio University have made plans for students not to return to campus after the break and have students remain at home to finish the semester online. The goal is to avoid having students go home, socialize and potentially return to campus with COVID-19.

University spokesman Ron Cole said YSU will change plans if there is a significant surge in cases or if Gov. Mike DeWine puts more protocols in place for universities. Otherwise, after the Nov. 25-29 break, students will return to campus for the remainder of the semester from Nov. 30 to Dec. 12.

Cole said the university is working to make sure students take their campus-taught habits home, such as social distancing, washing hands and wearing a mask.

"All that stuff they take home with them so that they can not only protect themselves but protect their families, friends and others that they might be around during break," Cole said.

Cole also said that since only about one-third of classes are taught in person, not a lot of students will actually be on campus after Thanksgiving, mitigating some fears about campus spread.

However, to ensure a safe return home for the holiday, YSU will offer free COVID-19 rapid testing on campus on Nov. 18 for students, faculty and staff.

"The idea is that you know before you go on break," Cole said.

The testing will be from noon to 7 p.m. in the Chestnut Room at Kilcawley Center.

Questions about a return to campus after Thanksgiving break were raised after the latest updates to YSU's coronavirus dashboard. During the week of Oct. 31, YSU reported 37 coronavirus cases among students and employees. Of those cases, 34 cases were students living off-campus, and three were employees, according to the YSU COVID-19 dashboard.

There have been 117 cases reported since Aug. 1.

This story was originally published November 10, 2020 at 4:52 AM with the headline "YSU still plans to return to campus after Thanksgiving break."