March 13, 2020 by The Independent Florida Alligator

www.alligator.org

We Inform. You Decide.

VOLUME 114 ISSUE 68

FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 2020 Published by Campus Communications, Inc. of Gainesville, Florida

Not officially associated with the University of Florida

Nomfumo Manaba, a 23-year-old UF journalism and political science junior, video calls into her class at Library West Thursday afternoon as UF moves classes completely online in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Photo by Nushrat Nur // Alligator Staff Stories reported by Alligator Staff

UNIVERSITY

UF cancels class, events

ALACHUA

Alachua County has two conﬁrmed cases of the coronavirus Classes will be online until at least March 30 Multiple people are being tested in the county

Classes are moving online and students are moving out as UF continues to monitor the coronavirus pandemic. Because classes are fully online until at least March 30, UF is encouraging large events and meetings to take the same route and consider holding them virtually, according to an email sent Wednesday from UF President Kent Fuchs. “These are extraordinary and uncertain times,” Fuchs wrote in Wednesday’s email. “I encourage all of us to look out for each other as we take care of ourselves.” UF spokesperson Steve Orlando said UF is encouraging all students to return home. Students who live on campus are welcome to stay at their housing facility if they want to. UF’s Student Health Care Center started

SPORTS/SPECIAL/CUTOUT “I was always striving for more.”

Story description with Thomas’ comma, pg# Florida gymnastﬁnish Trinity recordbreaking season became possible from hard work and humble beginnings in her hometown of York, Pennsylvania, pg. 11

screening patients Wednesday morning who were experiencing flu-like symptoms, such as coughing, fevers or shortness of breath, Orlando said. The protocol follows guidelines from the Florida Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Orlando said he is unsure how many students were sent into the center’s designated area Wednesday. Students were only kept there for a quick checkup. No student remained quarantined. These measures came less than one day after Alachua County confirmed its first case of the virus and only a few hours after the World Health Organization officially characterized it as a pandemic.

SEE UF, PAGE 6

The Florida Department of Health confirmed its second case of a patient with the coronavirus on Thursday evening, according to the department’s press release. The newest case is a 24-year-old female who is known to have traveled to Europe recently. This comes about two days after a 68-year-old Georgia woman tested positive for the virus in Alachua County. Multiple people are being tested for the coronavirus in the county, local officials said in a press conference Wednesday afternoon. They would not give details on how many people are being tested, but said there is no shortage of lab tests. The first case, a 68-year-old woman from

U.S. practicing social distancing

The American entertainment industry is canceling events, closing theme parks, pg. 8

Georgia, tested positive is under quarantine in the county, Paul Myers, administrator for the county health department, said at Wednesday’s conference. Those who came in contact with her are also under quarantine, he said. “There were a number of people who were exposed,” Myers said. “I’m very conﬁdent that we have identiﬁed most, if not all of them.” The Georgia Department of Public Health is trying to determine where the woman with the coronavirus contracted the disease, along with where she traveled before coming to Florida, Myers said. “I know where she went in Alachua

SEE COUNTY, PAGE 5

Panic purchasing

Photo gallery reveals Walmart shoppers’ reaction to the outbreak, pg. 4

@FloridaAlligator @TheAlligator_ @TheAlligator @alligator_newspaper