College pays spring breakers not to party over Covid superspreading fears

A university in California is offering to pay students who agree not to travel for spring break amid fears it could lead to a surge in coronavirus cases.

Students at the University of California, Davis, (UC Davis) can earn a $75 (£54) grant if they are planning on staying near campus for a “staycation” over the university holiday.

In a post on Facebook, the university said: “Planning a staycation for spring break? Get $75 to add some excitement to your week and support a local Davis business by applying for the Healthy Davis Together Spring Break Grant.”

The university specified that grants would be limited to 500 entries and added that “all non-essential travel should be avoided” as per state guidance.

UC Davis spokesperson Melissa Blouin told Fox News that interest in the grants, which can be redeemed at select local businesses, has been strong.

"The purpose of this $75 grant is to encourage UC Davis students not to travel during spring break and provide them with alternative activities to do during the week," Ms Blouin told the broadcaster.

She added: "This is an opportunity for students to create a memorable experience for the people they live with or are connected to virtually."

The university advises that employees and students who are planning on traveling out of state should plan to self-quarantine for 10 days upon returning, per state guidelines.

The scheme comes amid fears that students seeking a change of scenery and sunny climates for spring break could cause an influx in coronavirus cases in sun-belt states.

Partygoers began arriving in Florida last week and flocked to beaches and bars, despite warnings from health officials and medical professionals.

Los Angeles County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said in a statement on Thursday that “spring travel can lead to another surge that frankly would be almost impossible to tolerate.”

Dr Ron Elfenbien described the spring break to CBSN on Monday as a “perfect storm” saying: “You’re going to have a mix of alcohol, young kids and a potentially deadly virus that don’t all mix well.”

Last year’s spring break, which took place at the beginning of the pandemic, saw hoards of young people packed on sunny beaches, many of whom expressed little concern about the virus.

Beaches along the coast in Florida remained open throughout the season despite burgeoning cases in the area. In the last year, the state has recorded 1.95 m cases of the virus and over 31,000 deaths.

This time around, in an attempt to stem the spread of the virus over the season, a Florida beach hotspot has banned out-of-state spring breakers who are under the age of 23 until the end of March.

Social distancing is also being advised for those who are choosing to head to beaches, with other beach towns taking precautions to discourage reckless behaviour.

In Miami, alcohol, coolers, and tents are banned from its beach and midnight curfew is in effect countywide with no alcohol to be sold after 10pm.

However last year, Governor Ron DeSantis signed an executive order allowing bars and restaurants the right to remain open at least 50 per cent capacity and preventing authorities from fining people not wearing face masks.

Other schools across the US have cancelled the break altogether this year due to concerns over the virus, with some students also expressing reluctance to holiday or travel during the period.

Texas A&M University opted for a three-day weekend instead of a whole week off while the University of Alabama and the University of Wisconsin-Madison are giving students a day off later in the semester instead.

“Definitely, no planned trips. Definitely wearing masks this year,” Brady Stone, a 21-year-old journalism major at Texas A&M said.

“We are kind of hunkering down and staying safe.” He added: “I think most of us, if we are going anywhere, it is back to their hometowns.”

The centre for disease control has stipulated in its spring break guidance that students should not travel at this time.

Additional reporting by Associated Press