More than two dozen students from the University of Texas have tested positive for the coronavirus after they disregarded public health warnings by going on a spring break trip.
Approximately two weeks ago, about 70 University of Texas at Austin students chartered a flight to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. While such a trip was not under a federal travel advisory at the time of their departure, health officials were recommending people avoid nonessential international travel. Some members of the group returned home on commercial airlines.
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Twenty-eight students who were on the trip have since been diagnosed with COVID-19, while many more have been put in quarantine, Austin Public Health Department officials announced on Tuesday. Four of the people who contracted the virus showed no symptoms.
“Quit being an ass,” 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 public health officials urged people to limit their potential exposure to the virus last month, college students were seen flocking to beaches for their spring break trips. Over a week ago, the University of Tampa announced five students contracted the virus during their trip.
As of the beginning of April, confirmed coronavirus cases around the world totaled to more than 870,000 and have led to over 43,000 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University. Nearly 185,000 people who have been diagnosed with the virus have since recovered.
