Governor, Colleges Encourage Students To Stay On Campus To Slow COVID-19 Spread

Governor Kevin Stitt is encouraging college students who have tested positive for COVID-19 to stay on campus to help stop the spread of the virus.

Local universities like the University of Tulsa and Oral Roberts University said they're encouraging students to stay on campus this semester as much as possible and they believe this request is really keeping their numbers down.

"Once you are on campus, please stay on campus. this will allow us to contain the spread of the virus,” said Governor Kevin Stitt.

Governor Kevin Stitt stood by several health officials Tuesday to discuss the rising number of cases in Oklahoma and the state's response. They also encouraged students living on college campuses to not go home if they test positive.

"Your university has a plan to make sure you are isolated but still get whatever care you need,” said Governor Kevin Stitt.

TU and ORU said they even changed their calendars this year to discourage students from traveling.

"Our in-person instruction actually ends the week before thanksgiving and then we don't pick back up until Martin Luther King Day, so we have one larger break versus smaller breaks earlier in the semester,” said Chief Compliance Officer Matt Warren.

Right now, the University of Tulsa has 21 active cases of COVID-19, and 29 students in isolation.

Chief Compliance Officer Matt Warren said the university has special isolation housing for students who test positive and will even bring food to their door.

"It is set up with everything they need to be comfortable during their isolation stay so that they're not forced to travel home or to go out into the community,” said Warren.

Warren said students have been good about staying on campus and he believes that's helping keep their number of cases down. He also said the university hasn't seen any evidence of spread during academic classes.

"It seems that the protocols of wearing masks, keeping six feet apart and limiting occupancy are helping to keep the University of Tulsa's campus a safe place to be,” said Warren.

November 20th is the last day of in-person classes for TU. They'll resume classes online after Thanksgiving Break.