By BRUCE SCHREINER and DYLAN LOVAN
Associated Press
FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) -- The University of Kentucky plans to resume in-person classes on its Lexington campus for the fall semester starting in August, the school's president said Friday.
In an email message to the university community, UK President Eli Capilouto outlined plans to "reinvent normal" in the age of the coronavirus at the state's flagship university. Four campus teams will develop strategies with the goal of having a final plan in place by mid-June, he said.
"To reach our goal, we must act quickly over the next month-and-half to reinvent or reimagine what is normal in the wake of this public health crisis," Capilouto wrote.
The university's health care and research components also are working on restart plans, he said, while stressing the importance of opening the campus.
"The distinctive residential educational experience we provide at UK has attracted thousands of students from across Kentucky, the country and the globe," Capilouto said. "That experience is critical for the future."
Among the questions the planning teams will have to tackle: How to return to in-class instruction that must be complemented by digital instruction.
"And, how do we do that within a reinvented normal, fully prepared to prevent, detect, manage, treat and contain COVID-19?" he said. "How do we make possible learning, healing and service for our entire community, including those who are at risk for serious illness?"
One of the teams will focus on increased screening, testing and tracing for the campus, he said.
In another sign the state is moving toward gradual reopenings, Kentucky's chief justice said he formed three task forces to plan how the courts will resume in-person services.
A Supreme Court justice will head each task force, one each for circuit, family and district courts, Chief Justice John D. Minton Jr. said. Judges and circuit clerks will serve as task force members.
"As Kentucky begins to gradually reopen business, the courts must prepare to do the same," Minton said. "Although in-person services are suspended until May 31, our next priority is a reopening plan that respects social distancing while allowing greater access to the courts."
Resumption of in-person court services will be done in a "limited, phased approach" to ensure the health of court personnel and the public, he said in an email to judicial branch employees.
Gov. Andy Beshear has announced plans for phased reopenings of businesses, factories and churches in May as Kentucky reboots much of an economy shut down by the coronavirus.
For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up within weeks. For some, especially older adults and those with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, even death
