Clark University Latest To Close Over Coronavirus

WORCESTER, MA — Clark University will end in-person classes and begin online instruction by March 23 due to the new coronavirus, the school announced Thursday night. As recently as Wednesday, school officials had pledged not to close.

Clark joins fellow Worcester colleges Holy Cross and Worcester Polytechnic Institute in jumping to online learning. Clark students will not have class through March 20, and will have to move off campus by March 22. Some exceptions will be made for international students who can't go home due to travel restrictions.

"Over the past few days, we have been in continuous dialogue with public-health experts and others regarding the best ways to protect the health and well-being of students, staff and faculty, and to assist in mitigating the spread and impact of the COVID-19 virus at Clark, in our community, and more broadly," President David Angel wrote in a letter to the campus.

Angel said the closure was made due to a possible "accelerated" spread of COVID-19, expected new global and domestic travel restrictions, and to support social distancing.

There are no COVID-19 cases at Clark, he said. Three people are being tested in Worcester who have exhibited symptoms. Another person was tested at UMass Memorial Hospital, but they were released into home quarantine.

Clark observed spring break over the first week of March. A handful of students visited a conference in Washington, D.C., where a person with known COVID-19 also attended. All those students were asked to self-quarantine for 14 days. One student did return to campus, but was asked to leave.

Even with online learning in place, Angel said Clark will remain open to faculty and staff.

Worcester State University and Assumption College have extended spring break. Assumption will begin online learning on March 19, and students may return as soon as March 30 if the COVID-19 situation improves.