Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
IRONWOOD — Michigan Technological University and Northern Michigan University joined other universities across the nation Wednesday in canceling all face-to-face classes as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
Gogebic Community College will remain open, according to President George McNulty, but the college will work with health officials daily to monitor the situation.
“The health of our students and community is our most important priority,” said McNulty. “While there are not confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Gogebic County, the number of cases nationally continues to grow. We will work with our health partners daily, and will keep in communication with our student body as they return from this week’s spring break.”
Michigan Technological University announced Wednesday it is canceling all in-person classes from March 16 through April 17, as a precaution due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
“The health, safety and security of our campus is of utmost importance,” said Rick Koubek, president of MTU in an email to students and staff. “Therefore, Michigan Tech is taking the following preventative actions to mitigate the impacts associated with the potential spread of the COVID-19 Virus on our campus and in our community.”
The university will be switching all classes to online, and canceling all group gatherings that involve 25 people or more.
“I appreciate how difficult this decision must have been for the leadership at MTU,” said state Sen. Ed McBroom, R-Vulcan. “Our small communites have significantly small reserves in the way of medical services. It is obvious that MTU, in working diligently to protect its students and home community, recognizes how the large student body, combined with a significant medical emergency, may be a burden too great for the available services.”
MTU is also mandating that all students and staff who have traveled to countries designated as either Level 2 or Level 3 by the CDC or been in contact with the virus not return to campus for 14 days. Countries classified as Level 2 or Level 3 include: Italy, China, South Korea, Iran, Venezuela, Africa, Japan, Asia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Nigeria.
Northern Michigan University announced a similar decision Wednesday night. NMU canceled all classes, labs and events for the rest of the week. The school will then go to online classes through April 3, with the exception of labs which will continued to be held in person, unless the department deems otherwise. The school will decide by March 30 how to handle the rest of the semester.
Other schools to have taken these type of precautions, as a result of the coronavirus include Central Michigan University, Michigan State University, University of Michigan, Lake Superior State University, University of Wisconsin-Madison, UW-Superior and five campuses of the University of Minnesota including the Twin Cities and UM-Duluth.
“The ability to continue the education of so many by utilizing technology is a huge blessing,” McBroom said.
The coronavirus, which was officially declared as a pandemic on Wednesday, by the World Health Organization, is categorized by symptoms such as fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Warning signs include difficulty breathing, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, new confusion or inability to arouse and bluish lips or face. The people most at risk are the elderly and people with conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and lung disease.
The Center for Disease Control advises that people take “everyday precautions” to prevent the spread of the disease such as avoiding contact with those that are sick, frequent hand washing and routinely clean frequently touched surfaces.