The World Health Organization has declared a COVID 19 pandemic, and the Centers for Disease Control is urging community mitigation strategies to prevent the continued spread of the virus.
While many local residents have taken to social media to criticize the precautionary responses taken by many colleges and facilities, statements of cancellations continued to be released throughout the day on Wednesday.
Several nursing homes through the region have either forbidden visitors, or put in place strict visitation guidelines. Several banks and retailers have sent out notices to customers about the virus and what actions may be taken should the virus spread to this region.
While public schools remain in session, with extra precautions being taken for wellness and safety, the area’s universities have made some drastic changes in an effort to limit the spread of COVID 19.
The University of Pittsburgh, including its Bradford campus, has canceled classes the week of March 16, and is moving classes to online beginning March 23 “for the remainder of the spring semester.”
“The health and safety of everyone in the campus community, as well as our neighbors in the region, is our first priority,” said Pat Frantz Cercone, university spokeswoman. “Therefore, the university is taking precautions to avoid further spread of the virus.
“We have been preparing for this scenario for several days and are continuing to work out the details to make this transition to online classes as seamless as possible for our entire campus community and their families.”
In addition, all campus events have been canceled for the foreseeable future, and some have been postponed. A decision about Commencement will be made at a later time.
The Donor Scholarship Luncheon, which was scheduled for March 27, has been canceled. As of Monday, March 16, all athletic events have been canceled for the foreseeable future. The inauguration of Dr. Catherine Koverola, president, which had been scheduled for April 3, has been postponed.
In addition to moving classes online and canceling events, the university has canceled summer study abroad trips and all university travel, both domestic and international. The university also is discouraging all personal domestic and international travel.
Students attending Pitt-Bradford are discouraged from coming to campus to pick up their belongings. However, if they need to retrieve their belongings, they will receive information on how to do so.
Exceptions will be made to allow some students to remain on campus. Student services, such as dining, will be available to those remaining students.
“There are many logistical issues that need to be worked through,” Cercone explained. “As we have more information, we’ll share it on our website and our social media channels.”
Across the border, St. Bonaventure University has made some changes, but will still carry on with business as usual with classes. Officials are suspending most university-sponsored student travel and all organized campus events, including extracurricular student activities and events the university hosts, until at least March 31.
Dr. Dennis DePerro, university president, announced the decision in a notice to the campus community late Wednesday afternoon.
“While we have no reported cases on campus or in the surrounding community, we’re exercising an abundance of caution in limiting crowd gathering,” DePerro said. “We’re fortunate that we have relatively small class sizes so we are continuing with in-class instruction for the time being.
All organized extracurricular and co-curricular campus activities and events, as well as campus events the university hosts, including but not limited to dinners, guest lectures, conferences and competitions, are suspended effective at 5 p.m. Friday, March 13.
The campus events include intramurals, club sports, Campus Activity Board events, open student club events and Quick Center events. These restrictions will remain in place until March 31, at which time university administrators, in consultation with the County Health Department, will re-examine the situation to decide if the suspension needs to be extended.
The CDC is recommending that people stay at home when sick, limit movements in the community and limit visitors. While no cases have been reported in the region, the CDC recommends being prepared as a precaution.
Personal protective measures like handwashing and respiratory etiquette are recommended. Consider stocking a two-week supply of essentials like prescription medication and food as a precautionary measure. Establish plans to work from home if necessary, and consider childcare options should it become necessary.
