In response to the coronavirus, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology is taking the extreme measure of forcing all undergraduate students to leave the campus and take their classes online.
The research university is temporarily moving to the only-online class model to help combat the spread of the ongoing outbreak. In Massachusetts, confirmed coronavirus cases have jumped to 92, prompting the governor to declare a state of emergency.
On Tuesday, MIT President L. Rafael Reif explained that “state and federal public health officials advise that to slow a spreading virus like Covid-19 (the coronavirus), the right time for decisive action is before it is established on our campus.”
“Therefore, although the risk to those on campus remains low, given the ongoing spread in our state and elsewhere, we are now escalating our institutional response to protect our entire community,” he said in a letter to the campus.
MIT is now demanding all undergraduate students who live on campus to depart by next Tuesday, and instead take their courses online for the remainder of the semester. The school has also been telling students to pack up as if they won’t return until next school year.
“For students poised to graduate: Please pack as if you will not return to MIT for classes. No decision has yet been made about this year's Commencement ceremonies,” the school added in today’s announcement. The only exemptions being given are largely to certain international students and graduate students.
MIT announced the drastic measure as Google on Tuesday recommended that all North American-based staffers work from home until April 10. “Our goal is to reduce the density of people in offices, which expert advice suggests may slow down the spread of COVID-19 and reduce the burden on the local community and health resources,” the company told PCMag.
Last week, Google, along with Amazon and Microsoft, also reportedly told their employees in Seattle offices to work from home after Washington state reported an outbreak of coronavirus cases.
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