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This page offers all of Delaware Public Media's ongoing coverage of the COVID-19 outbreak and how it is affecting the First State. Check here regularly for the latest new and information.

UD moves to limit campus access further during COVID-19 outbreak

Delaware Public Media

The University of Delaware is further modifying its novel coronavirus response, giving more time to prepare the move to online classes and cutting back on who comes to campus.

 

University president Dennis Assanis said  in a letter to the UD community Sunday that the escalation of cases nationally and in the First State is prompting additional moves.

"We feel that the University of Delaware needs to accelerate all measures of preparation even further to protect the health and safety of our community," said Assanis in his letter.

The school is extending its spring break.  It will now be two weeks long, lasting until March 29th.   The school says the decision allows additional time to finish moving courses online.

UD is also extending the time for students to remove their belongings from residence halls to the end of the semester. It says recommendations from the CDC and the World Health Organization to strengthen social distancing are prompting them to ask students to avoid coming to campus until the school determines it is safer to do so.

University officials are also telling researchers to prepare for all on-campus research to be restricted to essential activities, like caring for animals or critical cell cultures, starting Tuesday afternoon at 5. They add thet expect that limited access will last two weeks and perhaps longer.

The school adds only employees who perform essential functions that cannot be done remotely will be asked to report to campus through at least March 27th.

As of Sunday night, all 7 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Delaware are connected to the University of Delaware.

Tom Byrne has been a fixture covering news in Delaware for three decades. He joined Delaware Public Media in 2010 as our first news director and has guided the news team ever since. When he's not covering the news, he can be found reading history or pursuing his love of all things athletic.
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