TUCSON, Ariz. — For the past 18 weeks, the University of Arizona has been planning a safe return for students and employees.
Assistant Vice President of Facility Management Christopher Kopach said the University plans to test every student and employee for COVID-19.
More than 5,000 students will be living on campus this semester, so if they test positive for coronavirus, they will be in a isolated dorm for 14 days with food, wifi and health care provided to them.
Kopach said staying healthy starts with each student.
"We gotta wear the mask," Kopach said. "The wildcat pledge. We make sure we wear the mask. We want to take care of our wildcat community. Making sure we are physical distancing, washing your hands, all the good practices the CDC recommends."
He said the university has 100,000 masks, with each student and employee getting two.
The student union will only have dine in at the Student Union Ballroom with tables distance six feet apart and sneeze guards.
There will also be 5,000 bottles of COVID-19 killing disinfectant around campus, six feet distance required at all times and 50% capacity in classrooms.
"We really want to just make sure all of us are being compassionate, caring and that we’re wearing the mask, so we can go ahead and beat this COVID," Kopach said. "Eventually, we will. We will get through this, but we will get through it together as a wildcat family."
He said the university is depending on students to act responsibly to stop the spread.
The University of Arizona is on track to reopen August 24th.
Related: https://www.kgun9.com/news/coronavirus/uarizona-return-suspensions-possible-for-covid-violations