March 12th, 2020 – 6:30 PM
Berry College Press Release –
ROME, Ga. — Berry College announced today that it is closing its campus to visitors through the end of March.
President Steve Briggs announced this measure as part of a comprehensive approach to safeguard the health and safety of the campus community while maintaining the core educational functions of the college.
The spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) is requiring all colleges and universities, as with other services and businesses, to make adjustments to normal operating practices to protect the health and safety of local communities. A number of other colleges and universities have decided to close their residential campuses and send students home for the remainder of the spring semester.
As students and faculty return from spring break, Berry is choosing to remain open, but it will not be “business as usual.” Berry is putting multiple steps in place including on-campus health screening as students return from spring break, cancelling all public events through the end of March, enhancing cleaning protocols, and incorporating measures that encourage “social distancing” and limited person-to-person contact.
The Southern Athletic Association has suspended all conference competition for the season. Some individual games may be scheduled on a limited basis with restrictions related to attendance.
Briggs expressed his regret at having to restrict access to campus to many of its regular visitors.
“We know that Berry’s campus is a treasure that we enjoy sharing with Rome and Floyd County as we welcome hundreds of visitors who run, hike or bike on campus daily. Nevertheless, in this moment of uncertainty, we must make act to ensure the well-being of our students, faculty and staff,” Briggs said.
The college reviews national, state and local conditions on a daily basis, paying attention to guidance from the Floyd County Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control.
Campus events that are normally open to the public are being rescheduled or cancelled. Speakers or lectures will be taped and made available as possible. The college looks forward to welcoming our campus visitors back as soon as it is reasonable to do so.