University of South Carolina cancels classes for coronavirus

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina's largest university is extending spring break for students by a week and moving to virtual instruction when students return because of the new coronavirus, the school announced Thursday.

The University of South Carolina cancelled classes for its 35,000 students at its main Columbia campus and in Lancaster, Sumter, Aiken and Salkehatchie until March 22. The schools were on spring break this week.

In addition, the schools are suspending face-to-face teaching in lecture halls and seminars until April 3.

So far, nine cases of COVID-19 have been diagnosed in South Carolina, state health officials said. Seven of them are in Camden, a city of about 7,200 people about 40 miles (65 kilometers) northeast of Columbia.

The University of South Carolina isn't closing, and at this point, plans to continue holding athletic events, including women's basketball in the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament, and baseball. While students are discouraged from returning to campus until April 3, the university and its residence halls will remain open with food services.

Gov. Henry McMaster said health officials are talking with sports and tourism officials about the NCAA Women's Tournament Sweet 16 in Greenville in March as well as April events like the Volvo Car Open tennis tournament in Charleston and Heritage golf tournament on Hilton Head Island. So far those events and other large gatherings in the state are continuing, the governor said.

“I will be in the St. Patrick's Day parade in Greenville this weekend, myself." McMaster said. “We're asking people to listen to health care professionals. Be calm, be smart.”

Furman University also extended spring break for its 3,000 students a week until March 22 and will hold virtual classes the next week, the university announced Wednesday.

The College of Charleston held all its classes online Thursday as a test to see if it could go all-virtual. Other universities in the state have not announced any coronavirus changes. Clemson University is on spring break next week.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, but for a few, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illnesses including pneumonia. More than 120,000 people have been infected worldwide, with more than 4,300 deaths, but the vast majority recover within weeks. The U.S. tally topped 1,000 cases on Wednesday, with at least 30 deaths.

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