University continues with plans to return to campus, Beshear issues travel advisory

Daniella Tebib

News Editor

dtebib@murraystate.edu

Amidst the week of the highest number of COVID-19 cases in Kentucky, Gov. Andy Beshear issued a travel advisory and Murray State’s administration announced they will continue to carry out its Racer Restart Initiative.

As of press time, Beshear said there are 25,147 COVID-19 cases. Of the confirmed cases in Kentucky, Calloway County’s numbers has risen to 136 cases with two hospitalizations, 18 isolated at home, 113 recoveries and three COVID-19 related deaths.

To combat the increase in cases, Beshear issued a travel advisory on Monday, July 20 asking for anyone who has visited states reporting positive testing rates equal or greater than 15 percent for COVID-19 to self-quarantine for 14 days. As of press time, the travel advisory includes nine states – Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Nevada, South Carolina, Texas and Mississippi.

The News sent a question to Beshear on Wednesday, July 22 about how universities should handle out-of-state students as they return to campus. 

“Number one, very carefully,” Beshear said. “Number two, with robust testing. Number three, making sure they have the medical staff on hand and ready to assist… They also ought to be talking to those students about limiting their exposure with the outside world before coming back to campus.”

The News also reached out to Director of Communications Shawn Touney for a comment on how Murray State specifically will handle the return of out-of-state students. Once more information becomes available, the article will be updated accordingly.

Murray State’s initiative includes 12 “Racer Safe and Healthy” guidelines including social distancing, wearing of facial coverings or masks and utilizing health services on campus. To help enforce and maintain these guidelines, Racer Safe and Healthy signage will be put around campus, plexiglass shields and hand sanitizing stations will be installed and classrooms will be disinfected. 

The University is also equipping the campus community with tools to help ensure safety. Each student, faculty and staff will be given kits containing cloth face masks, hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes, a digital thermometer and hang tag to be attached to any bag with the contact information for health services. Updated RacerCard IDs will be issued as well for more contactless use.

Murray State administration also said they will try to maintain a traditional on-campus experience for students while enforcing some modifications. To do so, a combination of mainly in-person instruction, hybrid and online courses will be offered.

Prior to the return to campus, incoming students can complete summer orientation sessions through a virtual platform. The final virtual summer orientation is set for Aug. 6. Prospective students can still apply for admission online here.

Stay tuned with The News as more information for the return to campus becomes available. The full Racer Restart Initiative can be found here.

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