NWMSU Students Anticipate Shut Down (8-24-20)

NWMSU Students Anticipate Shut Down (8-24-20)

This is week two for northwest missouri state university and the school is already seeing a section of their students and staff infected with covid-19.

City officials hope to squash the surge -- students say they're preparing to pack their backs and head home.kq2's kilee thomas has the story.

"we had a pretty dramatic increase at the beginning of august, late july."

Nodaway county seeing a surge of covid-19 cases as students return to northwest state university.

"as long as everyone is wearing a mask, i'm okay with it.

But, i feel like school's just gonna get shut down anyway."

There are 52 active cases involving northwest students or employees.

City officials attribute the spike in cases to college aged students contracting and spreading the virus "the large percentage of our community returning is college aged students that you're gonna see an increase in numbers in those sectors."

City leaders worry the significant uptick in cases could overwhelm the city "creating a situation that may be unmanageable for this community and for our educational institutions."

Maryville does have an acting mask mandate after the city saw a local surge in cases in late july... but once students returned to campus cases jumped dramatically"that seemed to lower the trend for awhile, obviously until the large population section moved back.

It's a numbers game in trying to get as many people wearing masks and taking other preventative measures, like social distancing, hand washing and taking it seriously as we move forward in the semester.

Hopefully, being able to continue to have businesses and education continue and operate."

Students say going back to remote learning is unavoidable "it's bound to happen that the school is gonna shut down cause even by my house there's plenty of parties and sure, kids can live their lives and stuff, but there's gonna be consequences for it."in a written statement to kq2 nodaway health department said- "...young people are in position to determine in large part what happens this fall in their colleges and universities.

I would encourage them to be responsible and adhere to guidance.

There are support systems in place to facilitate a learning experience but these depend on everyone doing their part."

While students would like to stay on campus they say in-person learning is going to be taken away any day now.

"it's bound to happen, so might as well just make the most of it while i'm in class.

Socialize with as many people as i can, stuff like that."

Reporting in maryville, kilee thomas kq2 news according to northwest missouri state university's webiste... there are currently 125 active cases in nodaway county -- 52 of those cases are from students or staff.of the 331 positive tests since april, 140 of them are northwest students or staff.