Nearly a dozen of students at Liberty University are sick with symptoms associated with the coronavirus, according to a university physician, after the private Christian university in Lynchburg Virginia welcomed back students and dismissed concerns about the virus.
President Jerry Falwell Jr. welcomed back students despite the growing concern of the coronavirus.
The New York Times [1] reported Sunday that Falwell spoke to Dr. Thomas W. Eppes Jr., a university physician, who did not urge him to close the school.
Now nearly a half dozen students are reported sick with Covid-19 symptoms, and three were sent to a local hospital for testing, per the Times.
“As of Friday, Dr. Eppes said, nearly a dozen Liberty students were sick with symptoms that suggest Covid-19, the disease caused by the virus. Three were referred to local hospital centers for testing. Another eight were told to self-isolate,” The Times reported.
“Liberty will be notifying the community as deemed appropriate and required by law,” Falwell told the Times, adding that students returning to campus are required to self-quarantine for 14 days.
Falwell has previously dismissed concerns of the coronavirus and billed it as an attempt to hurt President Donald Trump politically.
Twitter had some thoughts:
"It's just strange to me how so many are overreacting [to coronavirus]. The H1N1 virus of 2009 killed 17,000 people. It was the flu also I think. And there was not the same hype … it makes you wonder if there's a political reason." — Liberty President Jerry Falwell, March 13 https://t.co/yq2z01t4l2 [2]
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 29, 2020 [3]
I hope Liberty University and especially Jerry Falwell Jr get sued from here to Timbuktu https://t.co/6NMiJlW4WG [4]
— Cheri Jacobus (@CheriJacobus) March 29, 2020 [5]
Who are the parents? I mean who would do this to their own children? This is Jonestown level.
— Invoke “P” Michael (@Merv515) March 29, 2020 [6]
He needs to be criminally charged for this, stupid bible thumping idiot
— Ray Doherty (@rayd1475) March 29, 2020 [7]
Can u imagine parents offering their kids as a sacrifice “to own the Libs”.?
I just can’t with the ignorance..— IAmNotHereToRepeat2016VoteBlueNoMatterWho (@NoMoreBS14) March 29, 2020 [8]
Who could’ve guessed that the same folks who believe dinosaurs lived on Noah’s Ark would ignore science?
— jen pal (@jennyrachelpal) March 29, 2020 [9]