Coronavirus Leads Gwynedd Mercy University To Close For March

GWYNEDD VALLEY, PA — Gwynedd Mercy University is shutting down its campuses through the end of March due to concerns over the spread of coronavirus, they announced Wednesday.

The private Catholic school joins several other local colleges and universities, including West Chester University, Bucks County College, and Penn State in closing their campuses. Two new cases of coronavirus were found in Montgomery County on Wednesday, including in one resident. There are now nine cases in Montgomery County all told.

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The closure at Gwynedd went into effect at 4 p.m. Wednesday. Course instruction for students will be moved online.

There are no known cases of coronavirus in the Gwynedd community, but the precaution is being taken as a preventative measure.

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“We are closing all University campus locations out of an abundance of caution,” University president Deanne H. D’Emilio, JD. “The health and safety of our students, faculty, staff, and all persons affiliated with our school are of the utmost importance to us, and based on the best available information, we believe this step is in the best interest of all concerned.”

University employees will be working from home to keep basic services running, D'Emilio said.

All international and domestic university travel has also been suspended through May 1.

For the latest on coronavirus in Pennsylvania: PA Coronavirus Updates