Coronavirus: Kean University To Move All Classes Online

UNION, NJ — Beginning on Monday all classes at Kean University will be moved online as a precaution. There are no suspected or confirmed cases of the new coronavirus (COVID-19) at any of Kean’s campuses.

"Due to the growing number of COVID-19 cases nationwide and here in New Jersey, Kean University will begin remote education on Monday, March 16 to minimize the density of people on campus and reduce the potential health risk to our community, stated Kean President Dr. Dawood Farahi in an email to students and staff on Tuesday night.

Remote education is currently planned from Monday through March 30.

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During this period of remote education, Kean University issued these rules:

• Students should not return to campus following Spring Break and those students who are staying in the residence halls this week should return home if they are able to do so.
• Students will begin remote instruction on Monday. All students will be contacted by faculty with assignments and other instructions by Monday.
• University services and facilities will remain open and operating, and staff should continue to report to campus as usual.
• The University currently plans to resume on-campus instruction on March 30 and will continue to update the University community on this evolving situation.
• No University-sponsored travel will be approved during this time.
• Kean Online courses will continue as normal.
• On-campus events should be rescheduled whenever possible. No campus event should occur during this time period without prior approval from the relevant Vice President.

Developments in the new coronavirus outbreak continue to unfold rapidly in New Jersey now that the number of cases has risen to 15, and one person has died. Among the reported cases in NJ includes one Union County man. (See Related: First NJ Coronavirus Death; Total Cases Rise: Governor)

A 48-year-old from Berkeley Heights developed symptoms on March 1. The person was hospitalized at Overlook Medical Center in Summit. He had symptomatic friends from Italy, but they all tested negative. (See Related: NJ Coronavirus Updates: Here's What You Need To Know)

WHAT IS COVID-19?

Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that include the common cold as well as much more serious diseases. The strain that emerged in China in late 2019, also called COVID-19, is related to others that have caused serious outbreaks in recent years, including severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). The first confirmed case of COVID-19 in the U.S. was on Jan. 21.

The disease, which apparently originated in animals, is now transferring from person to person, although the mechanism is not yet fully understood. Its symptoms include fever, coughing and shortness of breath, and many patients develop pneumonia. There is as yet no vaccine against COVID-19 and no antiviral treatment.

According to the CDC, the best way to prevent the disease is to avoid close contact with people who are sick, avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands, wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, and use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol if soap and water are not available.

To avoid spreading any respiratory illness, the CDC recommends staying at home when you are sick, covering your cough or sneeze with a tissue and throwing the tissue in the trash, cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces.

The CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a face mask to protect themselves from respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19. You should only wear a mask if a health care professional recommends it. A face mask should be used by people who have COVID-19 and are showing symptoms. This is to protect others from the risk of getting infected. The use of face masks also is crucial for health workers and other people who are taking care of someone infected with COVID-19 in close settings (at home or in a health care facility).

Residents who have questions about the virus can contact the State of New Jersey's hotline at 800-222-1222. The hotline is home of the New Jersey Poison Information and Education System, and is staffed 24 hours a day by state health workers.

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