Hundreds of Liberty University students have returned to their campus after spring break. Authorities in Lynchburg, Virginia have been dealing with complaints about the return of the students.
Liberty University President Jerry Falwell Jr. welcomed the students back as the country continues to face the coronavirus pandemic.
“We could not be more disappointed in the action that Jerry took in telling students they could come back and take their online classes on campus,” Lynchburg City Manager Bonnie Svrcek told The Associated Press.
Campus closures have been announced across the country earlier this month. Liberty University, one of the nation’s largest and most prominent evangelical institutions, planned to implement on-campus instruction but decided to transition most classes online after Virginia Governor Ralph Northam banned gatherings of more than 100 people.
According to residential students, they were asked to return to campus.
Liberty spokesman Scott Lamb stated that 1,100 students returned to the campus as of Tuesday morning.
The university explained that it will provide safe and reliable accommodations and ensure the health of students. Their efforts include extra sanitizing measures and changes to on-campus dining.
Falwell, one of President Donald Trump’s most loyal supporters, has surmised on Fox News that coronavirus may have been invented by North Korea.
The virus causing COVID-19 will make an individual experience minor flu-like symptoms, but it is highly contagious. Young people without symptoms may infect others.
Coronavirus can lead to severe illness or death, especially among the elderly and individuals with underlying health problems.
Svrcek said the city has addressed concerned phone calls.
“People are saying, ‘This is terrible. What can you do?’” she said.
Dr. Kerry Gateley, a regional health director for the Virginia Department of Health, stated that his office had also taken calls from concerned citizens and parents of Liberty students.
