There are no campus-associated cases of COVID-19

UPDATE: Ohio State President Michael Drake will hold a news conference Tuesday afternoon to discuss the university’s response to COVID-19 coronavirus. Tap this link to watch live at 3 p.m.

COLUMBUS (WCMH) — Ohio State University is suspending face-to-face instructions such as lectures and other classroom settings and moving classes online for the rest of the month in a proactive effort to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 coronavirus.

In a statement made Monday night, OSU stated it was suspending lectures, discussion sections, seminars, and similar classroom settings and moving to virtual instruction, effective immediately and through at least March 30.

“We are evaluating classroom experiences such as laboratory and performance classes, and the university will provide specific guidance this week,” the statement reads. “We will reevaluate these guidelines on an ongoing basis and share updates or modifications as more information becomes available.”

A letter from OSU president Michael Drake states the school is monitoring the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak.

“While there are no campus-associated cases of COVID-19, we know that there are at least three confirmed cases in the state of Ohio, and we expect that there will be more,” Drake writes in the letter. “We are being proactive in an effort to prevent illness and continue the important work of the university.”

Students at the school are on spring break this week.

Drake’s letter is available in full below.

Three cases of COVID-19 coronavirus were confirmed in Cuyahoga County Monday, prompting Gov. Mike DeWine to declare a state of emergency.

Governor Dewine and Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Amy Acton will hold a briefing Tuesday at 2 p.m. to discuss the latest developments on coronavirus in the state. You can watch that briefing live by clicking here.