When you've made it through the first semester back to college and have enjoyed a nice Thanksgiving break and an even better Christmas break, you come back refreshed as ever ready to take on round two of the college year. That is until you are one month into the semester and you find yourself beginning to wish for summer time and another break from school. The only thing keeping most of us sane between now and then are the glorious two words; SPRING BREAK!

For many of us, those two words are music to our ears. This short, but much needed, break sends us into full vacation mode leading to over packing a suit case full of shorts, swimsuits and our favorite pair of Crocs. Ready to grab your plane tickets and passports to take off to sunny paradise leaving behind all things cold and dreary back home. Unfortunately, if you have been paying attention to anything social media, news or entertainment related, you too have probably seen the multitude of articles discussing the fast spreading COVID-19, or what most of us are referring to it as, the Coronavirus. Even if you have been living under a rock so far this new year (I'm right there with you), you've at least heard about how the great Tom Hanks and wife, Rita Wilson, having now been tested positive in Australia for contracting COVID-19.

For several weeks now there have been numerous reports, posts and even school announcements in regards to the cautions and preventative measures that are being strongly advised to be taken while trying to prevent the contraction or spreading of the Coronavirus. However, given that so much information is being distributed stressing the degree at which we should be concerned, much miscommunication and misinformation is also out there for us to see. No matter if you are one of those people believing this virus is going to be the end, leading you to be a contributor to the lack of toilet paper stock on the shelves at, well every store in town. Or, if you are one of the people saying that this is just another virus like the flu and people should be more stressed out about how the season finale of the Bachelor went down, there is still an undeniable need to air in the side caution and taking our health seriously to avoid contracting any kind of sickness, COVID-19 or other.

With report of serious cases of COVID-19, some even leading to death, mostly effecting the elderly as well as young babies, it is no secret that the rate and magnitude at which this virus is spreading calls for some concern. Considering there is not yet a vaccination and the spreading continues, procedures are being set into effect to aid in health maintenance at this time. From countries closing off entrance to visitors to airlines following in the same suit, travel has become very limited until further notice. Many universities are even becoming increasingly worried about the state of health that their students and campus faculty will face upon returning from Spring Break.

This has become such a controversy that even Missouri State University has sent out an email issuing a travel directive due to this upcoming Spring Break. This email outlined "protocols" that are being implemented for those who are choosing to travel, especially if those travel plans include visiting or returning from any of the countries listed with travel restrictions. Along with this, Universities everywhere, as well as the CDC, are stressing the importance of basic protective measures such as; washing your hands, avoiding contact with any ill persons, and avoiding touching your face as much as possible.

These growing concerns have led to a increasing amount of campuses across the United states to convert all classes to online, completely shutting down campus for the remainder of the school year in preparation for the amount of traveling students that may ignore the precautionary procedures and protocols recommended for safe travel. I'll be the one to say it, would we really be all that sad for seated classes to be canceled and moved to online? I mean, I don't know about you, but I'd much rather stay in my bed watching Friends and doing homework than battling myself on if I should park in the commuters lot or chance getting a ticket to park at a meter without putting quarters in just because it is right next to my lecture building.

Now, having dumped all of that seriously boring and less than fun information on you putting a damper on your vacay dreams, don't be too bummed out for this Spring Break, even if you did have to cancel that trip you have been planning all year. Spring Break 2020 can still be a blast! By simply rounding up your best girl friends and guy friends, making lots of yummy food and laying out on towels in the back yard soaking up the sun (if the weather permits) while the sprinkler mists you, you'll feel just like you're on a beach somewhere. Okay, maybe not exactly... At the very least, trying to make the best out of a bad situation in the comfort of your home surrounded by your closest friends might just be the break you needed to come back refreshed after all. Just remember, don't forget to wash your hands!