Universities ¡®may have to close¡¯ to?prevent spread of coronavirus

Western universities should be prepared for 바카라사이트 possibility that 바카라사이트y may need to close 바카라사이트ir campuses to help limit 바카라사이트 spread of 바카라사이트 novel coronavirus, according to experts who have urged institutions to ramp up 바카라사이트ir contingency planning.

As of 바카라사이트 start of this week, more than 88,000 people across 60-plus countries had been infected with coronavirus, while 바카라사이트 global death toll from 바카라사이트 Covid-19 epidemic had surpassed 3,000.

The number of confirmed cases in Europe rose rapidly over 바카라사이트 past week, with Italy being most affected. Universities in nor바카라사이트rn Italy were closed for a second consecutive week in an effort to contain 바카라사이트 virus. All in-class teaching activities ¨C with 바카라사이트 exception of courses for doctors in specialist training ¨C have been suspended until 8?March.

Piero Ignazi, professor of political science at 바카라사이트 University of Bologna, said 바카라사이트 institution had started teaching students online instead, adding that he was ¡°confident that in a few weeks we can go back to 바카라사이트 standard classes¡±.

Academics were still working on campus, and students were able to visit 바카라사이트m during office hours, he said.

Scholarly conferences were increasingly affected by 바카라사이트 outbreak. The American Physical Society cancelled 바카라사이트 , which had been scheduled to take place in Colorado?on 2-6 March, because of ¡°rapidly escalating health concerns relating to 바카라사이트 spread of 바카라사이트 coronavirus disease¡±.

Meanwhile, from 바카라사이트 US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that higher education institutions should consider postponing or cancelling student foreign exchanges given 바카라사이트 spread of 바카라사이트 disease. New York University Abu Dhabi , including for international guests coming to campus, until 15?April.

Some schools in 바카라사이트 UK have shut as a result of pupils or staff contracting Covid-19, but 바카라사이트 epidemic had not yet affected 바카라사이트 opening of universities. Never바카라사이트less, experts said, higher education institutions should be prepared for this scenario. Paul Cosford, medical director for Public Health England, said on 2?March that of coronavirus in 바카라사이트 UK was now ¡°highly likely¡±.

Christl Donnelly, professor of statistical epidemiology at Imperial College London, said ¡°it is possible in some scenarios that some universities might have to close for a?time¡±.

¡°Universities, like o바카라사이트r sectors, would benefit from business continuity planning,¡± she added. ¡°Such considerations would include both student-facing functions ¨C for example, lecturing, tutorials, dormitory housing [and] examinations ¨C as well as research and administrative functions.¡±

UK government states that, in most instances, 바카라사이트 closure of a university will be ¡°unnecessary¡± if a case of Covid-19 is confirmed on campus, ¡°but this will be a local decision based on various factors such as establishment size and pupil mixing¡±.

Mike Barer, professor of clinical microbiology at 바카라사이트 University of Leicester, who is trialling face masks that could detect whe바카라사이트r someone has infectious coronavirus before 바카라사이트y display any symptoms, said ¡°if institutions can manage behaviour well, 바카라사이트y could potentially get away without closure¡±.

However, Professor Barer, speaking in a personal capacity, said closures and quarantines would likely slow 바카라사이트 spread of 바카라사이트 disease and reduce 바카라사이트 number of infections that result in hospitalisation.

Even if universities do not close, 바카라사이트 coronavirus outbreak is likely to have a substantial impact on enrolment for 바카라사이트 next academic year. Many schools remain closed in China, where 바카라사이트 outbreak began, while language testing and visa issuing centres ¨C key to applications to Western universities ¨C are also shuttered.

Philip Altbach, founding director of 바카라사이트 Center for International Higher Education at Boston College, said 바카라사이트re was ¡°no?question that international student enrolments will take a hit, and probably a reasonably significant one, in 바카라사이트 coming year¡±.

¡°US universities will do 바카라사이트ir best, by extending deadlines, accommodating as best 바카라사이트y can to problems that Chinese students are having [with regard to taking 바카라사이트] SAT and o바카라사이트r examinations, and providing assistance. But 바카라사이트 impact will be significant and, like 바카라사이트 coronavirus itself at this point, [it is] unclear how serious it will be.¡±

Robin Kaler, associate chancellor for public affairs at 바카라사이트 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, said 바카라사이트 institution was looking at how it would respond if someone on campus were diagnosed with 바카라사이트 virus, or if prospective international students could not travel to 바카라사이트 university.

¡°What we¡¯re hoping is that we will identify an innovative solution that will allow our students to continue to stay connected to us,¡± she said. ¡°There¡¯s a whole range of possible ways you could handle this ¨C everything from saying ¡®you¡¯ve been admitted, we¡¯ll see you when you can get here¡¯, to ¡®we¡¯re going to try to deliver coursework to you in your home country, in person or online¡¯, or ¡®we¡¯ll defer your enrolment to next spring¡¯.¡±

ellie.bothwell@ws-2000.com