Duke postpones commencement amid new cases of coronavirus connected to the school
Durham County announced 11 new cases of coronavirus on Wednesday, all members of the Duke University community.
Most of them traveled internationally and were quarantined in their homes off campus, Durham County and Duke reported in a news release.
Duke officials would not say where they traveled. Its announcement on Wednesday follows a day when 15 other cases were announced, all part of a group who had traveled internationally. Four more people who were tested out of the country remained there.
Duke announced it is postponing commencement for the Class of 2020 “in light of the rapid spread of COVID-19 and the latest public health advisories on travel and large gatherings.” In a letter to those students, Duke President Vincent Price said it was a “very difficult but necessary decision.”
“I also know how disappointing this turn of events will be for you and your families, at a time when we are all sadly engulfed in disappointing and disheartening news,” Price wrote.
Price said he is committed to having an in-person recognition of the Class of 2020 and commencement ceremony on campus at a later date. Duke also plans to send students their diplomas later this spring.
“Thank you again for your understanding and support in these most unusual times,” Price wrote.
He also told students to take care of themselves, practice social distancing and wash their hands to help limit the spread of the virus.
Duke previously told to students to vacate their dorms and stay off campus after spring break as the university makes the switch to online classes for the rest of the spring semester.
If you or someone you know has been affected by the coronavirus at Duke University or you would like to share information about the overseas trips, please contact higher education reporter Kate Murphy at kamurphy@newsobserver.com.
North Carolina had 92 cases of coronavirus after Duke’s announcement Wednesday, which followed five new cases in Wake County.
Durham County had the most cases in the state, with 27 total. Wake County followed with 22 cases. Those two counties alone accounted for more than half of the state’s cases.
To slow the spread of illness, Gov. Roy Cooper has banned mass gatherings of 100 people or more, closed K-12 public schools and ordered bars and restaurants to close except for takeout and delivery.
Duke Health and Durham County Public Health are investigating whether those who have tested positive had close contact with anyone in Durham County while symptomatic. Close contact is determined as within 6 feet of someone else for at least 10 minutes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Both the city of Durham and Durham County have declared states of emergency.
Durham Mayor Steve Schewel announced on his Facebook page Wednesday that he and others in the U.S. Conference of Mayors are urging Congress to immediately allocate $250 billion in emergency funds to cities to “ensure continuity in vital services and support those most critically impacted by the crisis — financially vulnerable residents, small businesses on the margins, and community-based organizations — and will protect public health, human services, and the economy in this extraordinary time.”
This story was originally published March 18, 2020 at 6:31 PM.
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