Students at the University of Michigan were told by provincial authorities Wednesday to stay home in hopes of limiting the spread of a contagious coronavirus variant.
The Washtenaw County Department of Health said its recommendation has “the full support of” school officials.
” Students are asked to stay at their campus address and not meet with others outside their household members, ” a statement from the health department said.
‘Students are allowed to leave their residence only to participate in restricted activities, including personal classes, work or research that cannot be completed remotely, with the provision of food and medical care and other approved activities.’
This new, more contagious variant of coronavirus has public health officials at the forefront, for fear that the disease could spread rapidly even as more vaccines are administered across the country.
The University of Michigan is an academic home for more than 31,000 undergraduate students and nearly 17,000 graduate students.
About 90 percent of the school courses are already virtual. Health Department spokesperson Susan Ringler Cerniglia said the practical effect of Wednesday’s recommendation was aimed at getting students outside the classrooms.
“We are very concerned about the possibility of this variant spreading rapidly,” Washtenaw Health Officer Jimena Loveluck said in a statement. “We are working closely with the university to take coordinated steps to control the current outbreak and better understand the situation.”
The health department wants university students to stay home unless they go to buy food or medicine, see a doctor, attend worship services or practice outside, Cerniglia said.
