March. Spring break. College. What do most college students do during this time? Travel! But how has COVID-19 changed that? Some students left early in March before all of the warnings and shutdowns. Here are the stories of three students how the COVID-19 pandemic affected their trips.
Teah Colvin, a senior at Chadron State College, and three of her girlfriends planned their spring break in January. They wanted to vacation near the ocean in a warm climate, but they had a limited budget. They found what they thought was the perfect place for them. San Diego, Calif. Hotels close to the beach were reasonably priced and airfare from Denver was cheap. The date was set - March 9 through 12. They reserved their hotel and paid for plane tickets. The closer time came for them to depart, the more information came out about the coronavirus in Washington and California. The Chadron State College had sent out a memo to all students to take caution wherever they went over the break. Teah was questioned by concerned family and friends, but the girls had paid and were going to go anyway.
The girls had an early morning flight out of the Denver airport. Teah had the sniffles from a cold, but no one said anything to her. She said she did notice workers who checked their bags were wearing gloves, but no one wore a mask. They had a direct flight to San Diego that was full. Since they were the first passengers on the plane that morning, she said the plane smelled sterile like it had just been cleaned.
Once in San Diego there were few signs people were concerned about the virus. People were at the beaches, restaurants, malls and coffee shops. They went into two shops where the cashiers wore face masks. One Uber driver was picky as to whom he picked up for riders. He told them he would not pick up anyone who was Asian because of the virus.
When they flew back on March 19, they noticed a few more signs people were beginning to take the coronavirus seriously. Even though Teah had a runny nose, no one questioned her. But some of the people at the airport gates looked at her and kept their distance. Some of the passengers at the gates and on the plane wore face masks. One of Teah’s friends found Clorox wipes in the pouch in front of her seat on the plane. When their direct flight landed at the Denver airport, they were told a worker at the airport had tested positive for the virus.
Teah drove straight back to her home in Nebraska. When she got home, her father received a call from his employer asking if he thought he might need to stay home since Teah had been in a hotspot for the virus. Teah’s mom was given the opportunity to work from home. Teah’s dad called the public health hotline. After answering questions, he was told that he and Teah’s mom were at no risk and they could return to work, which they did. Since Teah still had her cold, she self-quarantined just to be safe. Teah’s employer told her to stay home until March 27.
Hastings College encourages their sophomores to study abroad as part of the college’s CORE curriculum. About half of their sophomores traveled to other countries this month. Kiara Uhrich, a Hastings College sophomore, signed up for a trip to Ireland March 2 through 13. Before the trip, the college warned the students about COVID-19. Kiara wasn’t too concerned since Ireland didn’t have any reported cases. The students were told to wash their hands frequently, use hand sanitizer and stay away from people with colds or coughs, especially while in the airports.
Kiara said the airports were packed with people, especially on the way home. While in Ireland and on the way home signs were hung in the airports and malls warning of COVID-19 and how to protect against it. On the return trip, the airports had hand sanitizer for use everywhere. Lots of people were wearing face masks and gloves. The day Kiara’s group came home Ireland reported its first case of COVID-19.
Now home in Nebraska, Kiara is quarantined at her family’s home until Friday. The day after she returned from Ireland, Hastings College notified her to quarantine and take her temperature twice daily until March 28. She records her temperatures and sends the readings to the college. Kiara stays in one room of the house – her bedroom – and does not go anywhere. She has a lot of time to watch television, visit on social media and do her homework on-line. Kiara misses going out with her friends.
On March 5, Canon Rath, a University of Nebraska at Kearney sophomore, his advisor and three other classmates went by plane to New York for the 2020 Intercollegiate Broadcasting System Media Awards ceremony (IBS) held at the Hotel Penn in Midtown Manhattan, N.Y. He was nominated for his Loper Update in the Best Sports Talk Program category. His classmates also were nominated for awards in other fields for the event.
On the way to New York, Canon noticed people at the airports were not sitting close together and several wearing face masks when they had a layover at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport. When they landed in New York at LaGuardia, he was surprised it was not as busy as he had heard New York’s airport was.
While touring New York on Thursday and Friday, the streets were crowded with people just like he had imagined New York would be. However, the atmosphere changed Saturday when it was announced that New York was in a state of emergency. There were noticeably less people on the streets. It was strange to see businessmen dressed in suits carrying briefcases wearing face masks. Parents with children made sure the children were wearing masks. Masks, gloves and sanitizer for purchase could not be found anywhere. A trip to McDonald’s was a little unnerving. Customers kept their distance from each other and the cashier wore gloves.
Before leaving Kearney, Canon’s group were informed some colleges had enforced a travel ban because of COVID-19. However, Canon and his classmates had paid for the trip. They didn’t want to miss out on the big event for them and their college. About one fourth of the winners did not make it to the ceremony. When it was announced Saturday afternoon that New York City was in a state of emergency, the students of one college left before the awards ceremony began and headed home.
On March 8, Canon’s group left early for the airport since New York City was virtually shut down. They also figured waiting lines at the airport would be huge for the afternoon flights. Not so. With no lines, they breezed through check in and waited three hours for their departure. Yet he noticed people did not sit by each other and many were wearing masks and gloves.
Once home in Kearney, no one mentioned Canon should quarantine. After a few days one of his co-workers questioned him but that was the only person who was concerned. Canon talked to his professors to see if they wanted him in class since he had been to New York, a COVID-19 hotspot. They were not concerned.
Canon has been home two weeks. Friday he was notified by the college two students in his dorm at Kearney had COVID-19 symptoms That evening it was announced a female in her 40s tested positive for COVID-19 in Buffalo County. Canon is moving out of the dorm and finishing his classes on-line this semester. Next year he plans to go back for the IBS awards. Instead of runner-up like this year, he is going for first!
All three students are finishing their semester on-line. Teah may have the hardest time because she has a photography class which has assigned a themed photo portfolio. She might have to start over. She was working on coffee cafes as her theme. Few people are visiting them right now, especially no groups. Teah has a back-up plan- outdoors and nature as a theme. She has plenty of time to enjoy her horse, the great outdoors and solitude now.
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