Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced today that all SUNY and CUNY schools across New York will start “distance learning” March 19 in reaction to the coronavirus.

Cuomo said the changes may be implemented slightly differently across the dozens of campuses. In Syracuse, SUNY-ESF already announced it was likely to shift learning online after the upcoming spring break.

The campuses will not be closed. Plans are being developed with the various campuses to ensure learning continues, officials said.

"They’re not evicting anyone,” Cuomo said. “They are not closing the dorm or kicking you out.”

The dorms may stay open, officials said. But the overall goal is to reduce large numbers of congregations on campus though the end of spring semester.

“We want to reduce density,” Cuomo said. The campuses will be releasing students “to the best of their ability,” he said. If students have hardships with nowhere to go, there will be consideration, he said. In some situations, colleges have programs that may continue on campus, such as labs.

This change also affects community colleges, Cuomo said.

Different schools have different spring breaks at different times, Cuomo said. No decisions have been made about graduation ceremonies, though it’s possible some may not happen as public gatherings.

The governor also did not have an answer about upcoming SUNY sporting events.

“I understand this sounds like a bad science fiction movie,” Cuomo said today, adding that he’s talking with officials about whether to hold New York City’s upcoming St. Patrick’s Day parade.

Cuomo also said today the state would start contracting with as many as 28 private labs across New York to do private testing for COVID-19. He said the nation has done about 5,000 tests so far. “Our testing capacity is nowhere near what it needs to be," the governor said.

As of midday today, Cuomo said the state has 216 cases in New York:

Westchester: 121 (13 new)

New York City: 52 (16 new)

Nassau: 28 (9 new)

Suffolk: 6 (5 new)

Rockland: 6

Saratoga: 2

Ulster: 1

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