Rutgers To Cancel Classes, Move Online Amid Coronavirus Spread

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ — The same day coronavirus claimed the life of its first New Jersey victim, Rutgers University announced Tuesday it will be canceling classes beginning Thursday and through the end of spring break, which ends on March 23. Rutgers will then offer online classes only until April 3.

With the decision, Rutgers is effectively shutting down its campus. Rutgers' announcement comes one day after Princeton University made the same decision: On Monday, Princeton decided to move to online classes only for the immediate future.

Rutgers also told students Tuesday to leave the dorms as soon as possible.

"Students are strongly encouraged to remain off campus through April 3," said Rutgers president Robert Barchi on Tuesday.

After April 3, the university will re-evaluate.

This applies to all three Rutgers campuses in the state of New Jersey: New Brunswick, Camden and Newark.

There are no confirmed cases of coronavirus at Rutgers. However:

"We have an imperative to do what we can to slow the spread of this serious virus and protect those who are most vulnerable," said Barchi. "This is a difficult and extraordinary situation."

As of 3 p.m. on Tuesday, March 9, Rutgers announced the following:

• Beginning Thursday, March 12, through the end of spring break on Sunday, March 22, all Rutgers classes are canceled.
• Beginning Monday, March 23, through at least Friday, April 3, all course instruction will be delivered remotely. All face-to-face instruction is suspended. This includes any class meetings.
• Individual instructors are expected to be in contact with their students regarding their plans for remote instruction prior to March 23.

Just today, New Jersey's first fatality from the coronavirus was announced by Gov. Phil Murphy: A 69-year-old man from Bergen County died of the disease. He had been hospitalized at Hackensack University Medical Center.

The fatal victim had a history of diabetes, emphysema and hypertension. He had no history of traveling outside of the United States, although he did travel back and forth from New York, officials said. The man had a fever and cough and visited his primary care physician a week ago. He was given antibiotics, but didn't improve. He was admitted to Hackensack University Medical Center on March 6. He was isolated and his conditions deteriorated Monday night, when he went into cardiac arrest. He was revived, but then went into cardiac arrest again on Tuesday morning and died, officials said.

Four new coronavirus cases in New Jersey were also announced at midday on Tuesday.

As of Tuesday, coronavirus has killed just over 4,000 people worldwide, 27 of those here in the U.S. However, to date 64,000 people who contracted the virus have fully recovered, according to the latest data. Health officials maintain that hand washing and staying home when sick will keep people healthy and slow the spread of the virus.

Beginning Monday, March 16, all classes at Rutgers School of Biomedical and Health Sciences with more than 15 participants will be provided remotely.

From Rutgers:

Rutgers Campus Activities

• Students living in residence halls should leave campus as soon as possible. Students are strongly encouraged to remain off campus through April 3. The University understands that leaving campus may not be possible or prudent for everyone, and we encourage anyone with concerns to contact the student housing office on your campus.
• Beginning Thursday, March 12, Rutgers events and in-person meetings involving groups larger than 15 participants are cancelled through April 15. Guidance related to this policy will be reviewed again by April 1.
• Groups with events scheduled after April 15 are urged to begin considering alternative plans in case future events will need to be cancelled or postponed.
• No new non-essential events should be scheduled until further notice.
• Athletic directors are instructed to follow the guidance of their respective athletic conferences.

Travel

• We strongly suggest that all members of the Rutgers community reconsider any upcoming domestic travel, especially to areas where there has been a significant incidence of COVID-19.
• All Rutgers-led international spring break programs are canceled.
• All students in third-party study abroad programs are strongly encouraged to return.
• All international travel sponsored by Rutgers is suspended.
• Any member of our community returning from a country designated Level 3 by the CDC is required to self-isolate for 14 days before returning to campus.

Know more: Princeton University Begins Virtual Instruction Due To Coronavirus Concern (March 9, 2020)

First NJ Coronavirus Death; Total Cases Rise To 15: Governor (March 10, 2020)