A spring break trip to Mexico left 60 University of Texas students sick with coronavirus, according to a new report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The University of Texas Health Austin COVID-19 Center launched a probe and began contact tracing when three symptomatic UT students tested positive for the virus following the trip to Cabo San Lucas from March 14 to 19. The trio showed symptoms between March 22 and 25.
“Additional travelers were identified through contact tracing interviews and review of flight manifests gathered with assistance from Austin Public Health,” said the CDC.
Contact tracing found that out of 183 total travelers, there were 60 cases of COVID-19 along, with four other positive cases connected with the spring breakers — one among 13 household contacts and three among 35 community contacts. There were no hospitalizations and none died.
It was previously believed that 44 students were infected with COVID-19 following the Cabo jaunt.
The CDC said contact tracing may be key when it comes to reopening schools.
“A coordinated response with contact tracing and testing of all contacts, including those who are asymptomatic, is important in controlling future COVID-19 outbreaks that might occur as schools and universities consider reopening,” it said.