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Coronavirus in Texas

This immunocompromised student fears his own college town during the pandemic

In the weekend edition of The Brief podcast, hear from a student who says that because he's immunocompromised, he's worried that students aren't taking the pandemic seriously when off campus, making him feel trapped in his home.

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Cass Deel, left, with her fiancee.
College Station resident Cass Deel, left, with his fiancée. Deel has been diagnosed with a pain disorder called complex regional pain syndrome, and he worries about an increased risk of contracting COVID-19. Credit: Courtesy of Cass Deel.

During the pandemic, many Texas universities have implemented strict safety measures to protect students on campus and help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

But some students’ off-campus approach has some of their peers worried. Cass Deel, an online-only graduate student at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, lives in College Station. He says he frequently observes students ignoring social distancing, forgoing masks and attending crowded parties. With a chronic condition that affects his immune system, Deel doesn’t feel things are safe enough for him and other at-risk students.

Disclosure: Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here.

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