Fearing coronavirus, Princeton U. orders some students to ‘self-isolate’ after China trips

NJ Advance Media for NJ.com ^ | Updated Feb 04, 2020; Posted Feb 03, 2020 | Spencer Kent

[DannyTN]

Princeton University has ordered some students, faculty and staff who recently traveled to China to self-isolate as the coronavirus outbreak continues to spread worldwide.

Fewer than 20 students — including undergraduate and graduate students — were in self-quarantine as of Monday evening, said Michael Hotchkiss, deputy university spokesperson. They must confine themselves for 14 days following their last visit to mainland China, according to a statement issued by the university.

The mandate requires that they remain indoors and not attend classes or jobs on campus.

As many as 108 Princeton students were ordered to self-quarantine as of Sunday, but that number dropped after the New Jersey Department of Health issued a new guidance, which the university is following, Hotchkiss said.

[DannyTN]

This seems like a responsible action. I think all colleges and universities should do the same.

We've seen a couple of scares at other universities. Tennessee Tech, and Texas A&M. Fortunagely they turned out to be negative.

[tomkat]

students to ‘self-isolate’

Color me skeptical re compliance %

[ProtectOurFreedom]

It seems that the virus is spreading through the HVAC systems on the cruise ship. People are isolated in their cabins, but the disease is still spreading.

Will the same thing happen at dormitories where students are “self isolating”? Do they use forced-air HVAC that can spread the virus particles throughout the entire dorm?

This may be endangering everybody who lives in the dorm.

[DannyTN]

Yeah, I don’t like the self-compliance either.
And I wonder if they are using shared bathrooms. Dorms?

And what was the further guidance that caused them to reduce the number of people quarantined?

[Berlin_Freeper]

self-immolate

[DannyTN]

I don’t know that the disease is still spreading. Remember it’s got a 2-14 day incubation period with most people showing symptoms in 3-7 days.

The ship arrived on Feb 3rd with some sick passengers. So we are still 10 days away from the end of the incubation period where people where may have contracted the disease prior to the quarantine could be showing symptoms.

Only 3 new cases in the last day.

But your point about the HVAC systems are valid. How are they mitigating the risk of spreading disease that way?

[ProtectOurFreedom]

There are these recurring (and debatable) reports that this disease can be communicated before you show symptoms. The jury still seems to be out on that issue. That’s what is really worrisome about this one (if it is true).

[DannyTN]

Yeah, I think the CDC hasn’t really bought into asymptomatic transmission yet. They still seem to be more in the nobody panic mode rather than let’s contain this mode.

[Steely Tom]

Gee I hope the students on whom Princeton is imposing its segregation apartheid system aren’t mainly from the same ethnic group.

[billyboy15]

LOL, when I first read the headline I thought it said

“Princeton Students ordered to self immolate”

I was all set to go into my happy dance

[DannyTN]

You’re the second person to read it that way.

[BobL]

“students to ‘self-isolate’...Color me skeptical re compliance % “

Reminds me of Jesse Jackson’s ‘hunger strike’ in the early 90s to protest Rodney King and other civil rights ‘abuses’. After several months, he was asked by a reporter as to why he didn’t appear to be losing any weight. His reply was “Well we, uh, rotate as to who is hunger striking on a particular day.”

In this case, I’m sure they will self-isolate, just as I do, until invited to something fun, or needing to go shopping.

Our ‘wokeness’ on Coronavirus may well be the end of PC - just watch.

[tomkat]

Crux = until invited to something fun

   :-)

[null and void]

Expect college students to act like responsible adults? What could possibly go wong?

Bring Out Your Dead

Post to me or FReep mail to be on/off the Bring Out Your Dead ping list.

The purpose of the “Bring Out Your Dead” ping list (formerly the “Ebola” ping list) is very early warning of emerging pandemics, as such it has a high false positive rate.

So far the false positive rate is 100%.

At some point we may well have a high mortality pandemic, and likely as not the “Bring Out Your Dead” threads will miss the beginning entirely.

*sigh* Such is life, and death...

If a quarantine saves just one child's life, it's worth it.

[IndispensableDestiny]

Will the same thing happen at dormitories where students are “self isolating”? Do they use forced-air HVAC that can spread the virus particles throughout the entire dorm?

The older dorms at Princeton (built up to the mid 1980's) don't have AC and are heated by steam radiators. The new ones use forced air heated by steam and have chilled water cooled AC.

[null and void]

Color me skeptical re compliance %

Maybe Ebola nurse Kaci Hickox can throw them a pizza party?

[plain talk]

Same here. But hopefully people will be reasonable and comply. Otherwise things could get ugly.

[RummyChick]

They have to eat and have utensils and plates and all kinds of ways that virus could come through their door...but yes, HVAC system too.

[tomkat]

They'll need a pizza delivery airlock   :-)

[Libloather]

...self-isolate...

Safe spaces? Can they stay there until the next election is over? Please?