Several buildings on Temple University’s Main Campus have closed or restricted their access in light of students, faculty and staff working remotely amid the spread of COVID-19.
What is COVID-19?
COVID-19 is a disease caused by a new coronavirus which was first discovered in Wuhan, China in December 2019. It causes respiratory illnesses. The disease has since spread to dozens of countries, and on March 11, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak of coronavirus a pandemic.
The Student Center and TECH Center are closed, wrote Ray Betzner, a spokesperson for the university, in an email to The Temple News. The Charles Library will close to the public indefinitely at 6 p.m. tonight, according to its website.
Many academic buildings on campus are now card access only, Betzner wrote.
Temple announced on March 11 that it would move its classes online and that students not given permission by the university to remain would need to vacate on-campus housing by March 21, The Temple News reported. The number of students currently in residence halls continues to dwindle, Betzner wrote.
As of Thursday afternoon, there were 185 reported cases of COVID-19, a strain of coronavirus, in Pennsylvania.
What are the symptoms of COVID-19?
Symptoms of COVID-19 include a high fever, cough and shortness of breath. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that symptoms can be mild or severe and appear 2-14 days after being exposed to the disease.
What to do if you are sick?
Stay home, avoid public areas and avoid public transportation if you feel sick. You should isolate yourself from people as much as possible and limit contact with pets and animals. You should call your doctor and schedule an apointment before visiting a doctor’s office, urgent care, etc. You or your doctor should alert a health department of your illness.
If you are sick, you should wear a facemask around other people. Cover your coughs and sneezes and wash your hands often for 20 seconds with soap and water.
Two junior biology majors are volunteering with Philly Fighting COVID, an organization that offers free tests for Philadelphians and delivers equipment to hospital workers.
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