KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The University of Missouri - Columbia on Wednesday announced it would suspend in-person classes in light of the coronavirus outbreak.

The university said though no known cases of COVID-19 had been reported on the Mizzou campus, it made the decision "out of an abundance of caution."

Officials said earlier in the day that a group of MU faculty and students recently attended a conference in New Orleans. Another attendee not part of the MU group tested "presumptive positive" for COVID-19.

In-person classes will be suspended from 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday, March 15.

Classes will be held remotely from March 16 through March 20, Mizzou said in its announcement.

The university will remain open, and faculty and staff are expected to report to work, the chancellor's message said.

Regular classes will resume on March 30, following spring break.

The university said it was also canceling all nonessential university events until March 29, though small meetings and athletic events will continue.

Nonessential, university-related international and domestic travel will also be suspended until April 12. Any requests for essential travel must now be approved by deans, vice chancellors or vice provosts, according to the statement.

Officials said the group that attended the conference are not showing symptoms of COVID-19, and their risk is contracting the virus is considered low. As a precaution, they have been asked to stay home and follow guidance from public health and medical professionals.

The chancellor said university buildings "will continue to be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected."

—