In response to the rapidly-spreading CONVID-19 coronavirus, colleges and universities in Greater Hartford are moving classes online following spring break.
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The four state universities and 12 community colleges in the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities system will move all classes online after March 23, when students return from spring break until at least April 5, CSCU President Mark Ojakian announced Wednesday.
UConn President Thomas Katsouleas announced Wednesday classes would be moved online beginning March 23 at its flagship campus in Storrs, as well as UConn School of Law in Hartford, and the university’s four regional campuses.
Trinity College in Hartford will begin holding classes online March 23, and will remain online until April 5.
The University of St. Joseph in West Hartford will move all its classes online beginning March 15, following that school’s spring break, and the University of Hartford, also in West Hartford announced this morning that all classes are canceled on Friday, and will resume online after March 30.
A spokesman from Goodwin University in East Hartford said school officials are meeting today regarding possible changes due to the virus.
The general move toward remote classes comes as an elderly New Canaan man was confirmed Wednesday as the third coronavirus patient in Connecticut and the first assumed to have contracted the illness in the state, the harbinger of what the state epidemiologist called the virus’ inevitable statewide spread.
Dr. Matthew Cartter, the state epidemiologist, said anyone in southwestern Connecticut who has a cough and fever should now assume they have COVID-19, the novel coronavirus blamed for the outbreak of respiratory illness in nearby Westchester County, N.Y.
Connecticut’s testing capacity is improving, but Cartter said most who get the disease will not need to be tested, with the greatest need for hospitalized patients. Public-health officials were tracing the contacts of the New Canaan patient, they would stop contact investigations in coming weeks as the virus becomes ubiquitous.
The General Assembly has canceled all public hearings that had been scheduled for next week and will allow voting by telephone on committee actions. The State Capitol and Legislative Office Building will be closed Thursday and Friday for cleaning.
Josh Geballe, the state’s chief operating officer, said Wednesday that Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notified Connecticut the state is getting $7 million in reimbursement for coronavirus-related expenses.
Insurance Commissioner Andrew N. Mais issued a notice on Wednesday instructing travel insurers to accommodate travel cancellation requests, taking into account the seriousness of the circumstances and the civil preparedness and public health emergencies declared by the governor.
A CT Mirror report was used in this story
