A group of 70 students from the University of Texas at Austin had a blast on spring break. Now they're paying the price after 28 have tested positive for COVID-19.
The group of 20-somethings chartered a plane to Mexico for spring break just a week and a half ago. This is mind-boggling for many, considering some people have been observing stay-at-home orders since mid-March. The students traveled to Cabo San Lucas.
Now the group of students is being monitored. The university, as well as the Austin Public Health Department, are keeping an eye on the group to see if there will be additional cases. Of the 28 students who have tested positive so far, just four are asymptomatic.
The students are receiving public backlash for the danger they put so many in for the frivolous trip. Some students also returned on commercial flights. The airlines have been notified of their status. This is just one of several stories where spring breakers put themselves and others at risk.
Spring breakers who continued to travel during the month of March as coronavirus concerns mounted around the world took a tremendous risk. Now some are paying the price. A group of 70 students from the University of Texas at Austin is being monitored after traveling to Cabo San Lucas just a week and a half ago.
The Austin Public Health Department and UT Health Austin and University Health Services are in contact with each member of the group of 20-somethings. Of the 70 who traveled, 28 have tested positive for COVID-19. The City of Austin issued a press release on the matter on March 31.
"While Mexico at the time of their travel was not under a federal travel advisory, Austin-Travis County residents should follow CDC’s travel recommendations indicating travelers avoid all non-essential international travel," the press release notes.
"A leisure vacation of any kind is not considered essential. Figures show nearly half of those testing positive for COVID-19 in Austin-Travis County are between the ages of 20 and 40."
The 28 students are part of the 244 cases of COVID-19 in Travis County as of Tuesday.
"The virus often hides in the healthy and is given to those who are at grave risk of being hospitalized or dying," Dr. Mark Escott, interim health authority for Austin-Travis County, said.
"While younger people have less risk for complications, they are not immune from severe illness and death from COVID-19."
"The university is working closely with Austin Public Health to assist in contact tracing," a spokesperson for UT Austin told People magazine in a statement on Tuesday.
"The incident is a reminder of the vital importance of taking seriously the warnings of public health authorities on the risks of becoming infected with COVID-19 and spreading it to others."
Certainly, many people were unhappy with the risk these students took.
"Quit being an [expletive]," Texas House Speaker Dennis Bonnen told KXAN.
"Get over yourselves. Whether you think this is an issue or not, it is. Whether you think it could affect you or not, it does. The reality of it is, if I’m a college kid who’s going to spring break in Mexico, you’re affecting a lot of people. Grow up."
As the story gains traction, many are questioning the parents who allowed their kids to go on this trip. Chartering a plane isn't exactly cheap, and college students are not known for their wealth of expendable income. Many believe that the parents who assisted in making this trip happen are just as culpable.
Many are concerned about what their infection and possible spread could mean for others in their community. As one Twitter user noted, "Texas has the largest uninsured/underinsured population in the USA. That means there will be a large population of people with untreated or poorly managed chronic illnesses. Obesity and diabetes have already been shown to increase mortality rates of COVID-19."
We're just seeing the beginning. Spring breakers who chose to travel throughout the month of March are just beginning to show symptoms and be tested. The number of infected youth, not just for this group but across the country, is likely to rise.
It's hard to reconcile these students' decisions and the consequences so many will face. You can hope this is a serious teachable moment. You also can't help but wonder if the students who have not contracted the illness feel they've gotten away with something.
