5 coronavirus things: University of Maryland, Holy Cross latest colleges to delay in-person classes

In this special edition of 5 Things, Food Management highlights five things you may have missed recently about developments regarding coronavirus and its impact on onsite dining.

Here’s your list for today:

The University of Maryland, College Park, moved to delay the start on in-person undergraduate classes until at least Sept. 14 amid a renewed surge in COVID-19 cases statewide. The university’s semester still will begin Aug. 31, but all undergraduate classes will be held online for at least the first two weeks of the semester, according to an email sent to students from university President Darryll Pines.

Read more: University of Maryland delays in-person classes for undergraduates, but students can still move into dorms

Worcester’s College of the Holy Cross is the latest Massachusetts college to back off on-campus plans for the fall and opt for a fully remote model instead. In a message to students and families, Holy Cross President Philip Boroughs wrote that school officials arrived at the decision with “great sadness and deep disappointment.” A “very limited” number of students will be allowed to live on campus.

Related:Compass One Healthcare’s garden at Arkansas Children’s Hospital Northwest grows café-employee connection

Read more: Holy Cross latest college to rethink fall plans

As the Tampa Bay Lightning play in the Stanley Cup Playoffs in Toronto, Amalie Arena is hoping to score with fans back home by jumping on the takeout bandwagon. The venue is launching a new stadium dining experience for hockey lovers that runs through the NHL playoffs: Lightning Gameday Eats To Go powered by Cur(ate) TPA.

“From arena classics for the whole family or game day favorite individual selections just for you, Lightning Gameday Eats To Go is another great way to be The Distant Thunder and get Lightning game day eats to go,” a release states.

Read more: Hungry, Tampa Bay Lightning fans? Amalie Arena selling takeout for Stanley Cup playoffs

The Northside ISD, a major school district with a regular enrollment of more than 106,000 around San Antonio, Texas, says its schools will stagger meal times in the cafeteria. Students will enter six feet apart and use hand sanitizer when they approach the serving line. Meals will be served on disposable plates with disposable utensils and pre-packaged condiments. Also, no one students or adults alike can get food deliveries. And breakfast will be served grab and go.

Related:5 coronavirus things: UMass, Princeton slash on-campus student populations

Read more: Northside ISD announces new changes to school cafeterias when they reopen

Up to 80 people who are part of the United States Senate cafeteria staff in the Capitol could face layoffs by October if Congress can't emerge from its coronavirus relief deadlock, CNN reports. The company that employs the workers, Restaurant Associates, did not confirm the number, but did not deny issuing warnings of potential layoffs, which are the result of having to close some of its restaurants because of the pandemic.

Read more: Senate cafeteria workers reportedly face layoffs if Congressional stalemate continues

Bonus: Oregon State University dining team pivots menu from customizable to quick, keeps favorites and flavors

Contact Mike Buzalka at [email protected]