Despite an earlier message from the University System of Georgia that public campuses would remain open, the plan now is to suspend classes for two weeks, per Gov. Brian Kemp’s press conference at 3 p.m.
In what he described as a call to action in response to rising cases of the coronavirus in the state, Kemp suggested schools consider closing for two weeks, starting as early as tomorrow.
But Kemp said he is giving local K-12 districts, the University System of Georgia and the Technical College System of Georgia free rein to act in the best interest of their students.
“They have all been freed to take action as they deem fit, and I am sure you will see many of them do that,” he said.
And they are taking action at dizzying speeds.
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In a letter, the University System of Georgia announced:
All University System of Georgia institutions will temporarily suspend instruction for two weeks to allow time for USG institutions to test their business continuity plans and online instruction modules and for state officials to continue to assess the current situation regarding coronavirus (COVID-19) in Georgia.
Students who are currently on spring break are strongly encouraged not to return to campus. Students on campus are asked to depart campus by close of business Friday, March 13, 2020, and to remain away from campus until March 29, 2020. At this time, students are not being asked to move out of their dorms for the remainder of the semester. For students who are unable to leave campus, please establish a mechanism to safely accommodate those students on campus.
Please activate your relevant business continuity plans and ensure the operation of online instruction should that become necessary. Further guidance will follow as the situation warrants.
On Wednesday, Emory announced it is moving classes online and closing its dorms, followed by a similar decision earlier today by the Atlanta University Center campuses, Spelman, Morehouse and Clark Atlanta.
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In a letter to college presidents earlier today, the University System of Georgia said that it has been told by the Georgia Department of Public Health that the risk of contracting the coronavirus (COVID-19) in Georgia remains low.
That changed in the last few hours in which Georgia had its first death from the virus and more cases were confirmed. The governor and health officials talked about the need for aggressive action to limit risk to older Georgians and those with compromised health.
The original letter said:
Therefore, all 26 USG institutions will remain open for face-to-face education at this time.
Many of you have asked, what can we do? The most important responsibility we each have is to practice prevention. Prevention is paramount.
Please urge your faculty, staff and students to take appropriate measures such as:
Wash hands regularly.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
Cover coughs and sneezes with tissues.
Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Be responsible and courteous to others and stay home if you are sick or experiencing symptoms.
Respect personal space when greeting others and during conversations.
Be mindful of those in high risk populations such as those with underlying health conditions and the elderly.
Follow CDC and DPH guidance on personal and business travel to avoid increasing your risk and that of others.
We take very seriously the responsibility to make prudent choices for the well-being of the USG community.
The latest information is that (as of Thursday morning) there are 12 confirmed and 19 presumptive positive cases of COVID-19 in Georgia. These numbers are likely to change.
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