Ohio State suspending in-person classes as virus spreads

Ohio State University has canceled in-person classes until March 30 in an attempt to stem the spread of coronavirus on its campus.

The university also suspended all university-sponsored international travel until April 20, The Columbus Dispatch reports.

The decision came Monday night after Ohio reported its first three confirmed cases of the virus, which is formally known as COVID-19.

“We are being proactive in an effort to prevent illness and continue the important work of the university,” OSU President Michael V. Drake said in email to students and faculty.

“I understand that our policy guidelines will cause measurable disruption, but the risk of not acting outweighs the inconvenience of these temporary measures. The safety of our campus community is always our top priority,” he added.

Drake also said that there currently were no university-related coronavirus cases, according to the Dispatch. 

Ohio State is now on spring break. When classes resume, students will have the choice to return to campus or their home towns.

The move comes after several other prominent universities such as the University of Washington and Stanford University both canceled in-person classes for the next two weeks.