South Carolina

Midlands Tech reschedules graduation for December amid coronavirus pandemic

Midlands Technical College has rescheduled graduation to Dec. 9, the school announced Monday.

The graduation event will be held at Colonial Life Arena and will honor students who finished their education in fall 2019, spring 2020, summer 2020 and fall 2020, according to a news release.

“Our leadership recognizes the dedication and perseverance of our students, and we are determined to hold an in-person ceremony so they will be honored appropriately,” Ronald Rhames, the president of Midlands Tech, said in a news release.

The original graduation date was set for May 6, according to the release.

After schools from throughout the nation canceled graduation ceremonies because of the coronavirus pandemic, some schools are beginning to reschedule. By rescheduling to December, Midlands Tech is being more cautious than other schools in the S.C. Midlands.

On Monday, Winthrop University announced it would be rescheduling graduation for Aug. 15. Richland 2 school district has scheduled tentative dates for graduation: Aug. 5 and 6, also at Colonial Life Arena. And the University of South Carolina has set tentative graduation dates: Aug. 7 and Aug. 8.

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What you should know about the coronavirus

The coronavirus is spreading in the United States. Officials are urging people to take precautions to avoid getting sick, and to avoid spreading the disease if they do contract it.

Click the drop-down icon on this card for more on the virus and what you should do to keep yourself and those around you healthy.

What is coronavirus?

Coronavirus is an infection of the respiratory system similar to the flu. Coronaviruses are a class of viruses that regularly cause illnesses among adults and children, but this outbreak has spawned a new disease called COVID-19, a particularly harsh respiratory condition that can lead to death.

Health officials believe COVID-19 spread from animals to humans somewhere in China. It spreads among humans by physical person-to-person contact, including via coughs. That’s why health officials urge sick individuals to avoid contact with other people.

For more information, visit the website for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms are similar to the flu and include fever, coughing and shortness of breath.

How can I stop the spread of the coronavirus?

Wash your hands regularly with soap and water, and cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.

If you develop symptoms similar to the coronavirus, you should seek medical attention. Stay home from work or school and avoid contact with others. It can take up to 14 days after coming into contact with the virus to develop symptoms.

COVID-19 is a new condition and there’s much about the disease we still don’t understand. For now, taking precautions is the best way to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

This story was originally published May 4, 2020 at 4:24 PM with the headline "Midlands Tech reschedules graduation for December amid coronavirus pandemic."

LD
Lucas Daprile
The State
Lucas Daprile has been covering the University of South Carolina and higher education since March 2018. Before working for The State, he graduated from Ohio University and worked as an investigative reporter at TCPalm in Stuart, FL. Lucas received several awards from the S.C. Press Association, including for education beat reporting, series of articles and enterprise reporting. Support my work with a digital subscription
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