Student Life Staff

Student Life will be updating this page with breaking news on the coronavirus outbreak in the St. Louis region and Washington University’s response. Have a tip? Reach out to our news desk at [email protected]

March 18 – Martin confirms 4 cases of COVID-19 within the WU community

4:39 p.m. — At least four members of the Washington University community have tested positive for COVID-19, Chancellor Andrew Martin confirmed in an email to the student body today.

Two of the people afflicted were physicians at the Washington University School of Medicine. One physician resides in St. Louis city while the other lives in St. Louis County. They were not working with patients, however, according to St. Louis mayor Lyda Krewson, one of the doctors continued reporting to work despite displaying symptoms.

“With this case, there’s reason to believe there is community exposure…” Krewson tweeted this morning. “While we still don’t have any detected signs of community transmission at this time, this case underscores the importance of what our healthcare professionals have been telling us.”

The other two individuals were undergraduate students who recently returned from studying abroad in Denmark who did not return to campus and are receiving care out-of-state.

All four of the cases are currently under quarantine.

“This is something we’ve been preparing for as the virus has continued to spread and as testing has become more readily available, and we have plans in place for responding,” Martin wrote in the email. “We are prepared to make necessary accommodations for our students and employees impacted by COVID-19 and, of course, we have some of the best physicians in the world to help manage patient care.”

Within the same hour as Martin’s email, Missouri Gov. Mike Parson confirmed the first COVID-19 death in Missouri, a travel-related case in Boone County.

St. Louis County’s number of cases has now risen to four. This is St. Louis city’s second confirmed incident of COVID-19, after a St. Louis University student was confirmed to have tested positive on Monday.

March 13 – College of Arts and Sciences plans to conduct final exams online, WU makes plan to ship and store student belongings

5:36 p.m. – The Office of Residential Life released its shipping request form after three days of limited answers for students regarding how they can retrieve belongings left in University housing over spring break.

The form, due March 16 at 8:30 a.m., asks students to categorize their items into three priority levels. The University aims to ship the items deemed most essential—medications, computers, wallets, glasses/contacts, notebooks, keys, books and government IDs—by March 23. The second class of items, personal items that include clothing and bedding, are aimed to arrive at students’ permanent residence by April 15. Any larger items such as furniture and electronics that do not fit in the first two groups will be packed and stored. As of now, the University has not provided information as to where they will be stored or when students will be able to retrieve these items.

Students’ belongings will be shipped and stored at the University’s expense.

In an interview with Student Life, Dean of Students Rob Wild said that during the packing process, the University will not pursue all of the typical student conduct charges, such as minor alcohol and drug violations. However, no alcohol or illegal substances will be shipped.

1:19 p.m. – Dean of the Faculty of Arts & Sciences Barbara Schaal announced that all final exams for the spring semester will be conducted virtually. Schaal plans to update students with more details about support for students and faculty in the near future.

The University’s other schools have yet to announce their decisions about how final exams will be conducted.

March 11 – WU cancels in-person instruction, tells students to not return to campus

9:30 p.m. — After President Donald Trump announced a suspension of U.S. travel from Europe to prevent community transmission of COVID-19, Washington University is requiring all students studying abroad in Europe, the United Kingdom and Ireland to return home.

Students abroad in these areas are expected to leave immediately. Students will not return to campus, but will instead return to their permanent addresses.

Amy Suelzer, the Director of Overseas Programs, asked students abroad in Europe to arrange their flights independently before the suspension is implemented Friday. Suelzer wrote that the office is working with the University’s international evacuations provider, International SOS, to provide assistance for students who need it.

2:41 p.m. — The Office of Residential Life released a late stay request form for students who seek to continue living on campus due to extenuating circumstances following the announcement that students staying in University housing must move out by March 15.

The form can be found on the Webstac Housing Portal and is due March 13 at 9 a.m. The University does not guarantee that all requests will be approved, and the form is intended for NCAA spring athletes, students experiencing financial strain and students living in a region with CDC travel restrictions.

Students who are approved to stay on campus will continue to have access to dining and other campus services, which will likely be limited.

The Division of Student Affairs and the Office of Residential Life plan to send out communication to all students living in University housing in regards to how they can receive their belongings and how their housing and dining plans will be partially refunded. Select students may be allowed to return to campus, store their belongings or ship their items home.

12:04 p.m. — University administrators instructed all students on the Danforth and Medical campuses not to return to campus after spring break due to concern over the spread of COVID-19. Spring break will be extended to March 23, allowing an extra week for administrators to manage a transition to online learning that will begin after break.

All Danforth and Medical Campus classes, including studios and laboratory classes, will be moved online. There will not be any in-person classes until at least April 30.

Additionally, undergraduate students who remained in University housing for spring break are required to move out by March 15. Students who left campus for break are not allowed to return to campus to receive their belongings at this point. All students living in University housing are expected to receive an email from Residential Life today for instructions on how to receive their belongings.

10:35 a.m. — Washington University is set to make an announcement today regarding their plans to hold classes for the remainder of the semester. Currently, there are no plans to cancel classes outright, but the University may modify how coursework is to be completed. Faculty members, who have already been instructed to prepare a plan for online coursework, will be in contact with students of each academic division to coordinate plans for their specific programs.

The University’s communication will be sent to all Danforth Campus students via email. In the meantime, students who have left campus for spring break are being asked to stay where they are until further instructions are given.

Local institutions Maryville University and St. Louis University announced plans yesterday to suspend on-campus instruction for the week of March 16.

March 10 – WU prohibits students from Westchester County and Seattle area from returning to campus

Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Lori White sent an email to families residing in Westchester County, N.Y. and King County or Seattle, Wash. prohibiting students who have been to those areas over spring break from returning to campus for the rest of the semester.

The announcement comes alongside news that universities such as Harvard University have canceled in-person instruction for the rest of the semester.

Students who decide to return to the St. Louis area after break will be required to complete a 14 day self-quarantine at their own expense, separate from University housing and students who live on-campus.

Non-returning students from the affected areas living in residence halls will receive a prorated refund on housing and meal plans.

“We made this very difficult decision in order to minimize the risk of spread and protect our university community,” White wrote in the email.

In a separate email to students and faculty associated with the Washington University School of Medicine, Senior Associate Dean for Medical Education Eva Aagaard and Executive Vice Chancellor for Medical Affairs David Perlmutter announced that the school would temporarily suspend all observer activities until at least April 30. Aagaard and Perlmutter cited the difficulty of tracking the travels of these observers as the main reason for the suspension.

March 9 – Martin announces restrictions for international and domestic travel, WU events

The University announced new travel and event policies following the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in St. Louis County.

For students returning to campus after spring break, all non-essential travel outside of the St. Louis metropolitan area has been suspended until April 30, including all international University-sponsored travel. This suspension also includes trips related to University work and programs that were funded by grants and other external sources.

Additionally, the University has a list of countries at an “elevated risk” compiled from recommendations from CDC, state and local public health agencies and experts on infectious diseases from the Washington University School of Medicine. The list currently identifies the countries from the CDC’s “Warning Level 3” list where all University travel is suspended — China, South Korea, Italy and Iran. Japan is also included on the list.

Visitors who have traveled to the listed elevated-risk locations, have been in contact with someone diagnosed or are receiving care for symptoms of COVID-19 in the past two weeks are not allowed to come to campus or attend University events.

Martin also wrote that while classes have not been canceled as of March 9, professors have prepared to offer courses online if needed.

March 8 – University mandates that students returning from “elevated risk” countries undergo medical screening

Executive Director of the Habif Health and Wellness Center Cheri LeBlanc updated the Washington University community of the coronavirus case in St. Louis County, in an email sent March 8, and confirmed that there were no instances of transmission within the St. Louis area at the time.

LeBlanc announced that the University would mandate students who have traveled to locations with an “elevated risk” of COVID-19 contact Habif Health and Wellness Center if they are on the Danforth Campus or Student Health if they are on the Medical Campus for screening. Those students would potentially be required to remain off campus for 14 days and have to receive clearance from the University before returning to campus.

“Given the nature of the virus and the way it has been spreading, as well as the gradually

increasing testing capacity, it is highly likely that we will see more cases here in the St.

Louis region,” LeBlanc wrote in the email. “This is expected and not cause for panic, but rather an important reminder that we all need to remain vigilant and take reasonable precautions to protect our individual health and the health of our community.”

March 7 – Missouri confirms its first case of COVID-19 in St. Louis County

Missouri reported its first case of COVID-19, March 7, after a woman who recently returned home to St. Louis County after studying abroad in Italy was diagnosed with the illness. The woman is not a member of the Washington University community.

The woman flew in from Italy to O’Hare International Airport and took the Chicago to St. Louis Amtrak 303 train, March 4. After experiencing a fever and respiratory issues, she was evaluated at Mercy Hospital St. Louis in Creve Coeur and was told to self-quarantine while her family awaited test results.

Amtrak notified passengers on the 303 train of the case and has disinfected the Chicago and St. Louis stations, and has taken the train out of service for cleaning.

St. Louis County health officials said that while the woman’s family was instructed to self-quarantine, their instructions were not obeyed. Villa Duchesne and Oak Hill School in Frontenac, Missouri notified parents that the father and sister of the patient were in attendance at a school dance at the Ritz-Carlton in Clayton on Friday.

26 people have been tested for the coronavirus in Missouri as of March 7.

March 5 – University warns students about the risk of international travel over spring break

LeBlanc “strongly encouraged” students to consider the risk of COVID-19 when making plans for spring break in an email to students on the Danforth Campus, March 5.

“Locations that are not included today, could very well have restrictions in place

tomorrow, creating difficulties as you travel and ultimately return to St. Louis,” LeBlanc wrote. “Your ability to return to campus and complete your academic program could be impacted as

well.”

LeBlanc urged students to “do their part” in containing the spread of COVID-19, highlighting the fact that members of the Washington University community who are at an elevated risk of serious medical issues will be severely impacted by the virus.

March 3 – University activates crisis management team, plans to assist students returning from abroad due to COVID-19

LeBlanc and Associate Professor of Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases Steven J. Lawrence announced that the University’s crisis management team had been activated and that students studying abroad in countries with University travel suspensions in place would be assisted in their return home in an email to the University community, March 3.

The University suspended travel to Italy, Feb. 28, after the Italian government reported a 50% spike in confirmed cases of COVID-19, rising to 1,694 people. Travel to Mainland China and South Korea is currently suspended.

Students returning from these countries with elevated risk will be required to undergo medical screening and receive medical clearance before returning to campus.

“If you have visited any of the countries on this list, you may be subject to restrictions on your ability to return to campus, including the possibility of quarantine for 14 days after returning to the United States,” LeBlanc wrote.

In light of the University’s upcoming spring break, LeBlanc encouraged students to “think carefully about the risks of travelling internationally,” offering a reminder that University housing on the Danforth campus will be open over break.

Feb. 13 – Martin assuages WU community concerns of COVID-19

Chancellor Andrew Martin outlined a set of guidelines, resources and precautions against coronavirus in a message to members of the Washington University, Feb. 13. However, Martin urged students not to feel alarmed, citing the fact that the virus had not yet made an appearance in the St. Louis area.

“At this time, I want to reassure our community that we have no cases of COVID-19 in or around the St Louis area,” Martin wrote. “Further, the CDC indicates that the general public are unlikely to be exposed to this virus, and the immediate health risk is considered low at this time.”

Martin also announced changes to the Olin Business School’s global MBA program to accommodate international travel restrictions. He added that the University would host informational sessions and “opportunities for dialogue” about the virus.

Martin reminded members of the University community not to give in to “feelings of angst and uncertainty,” encouraging anyone with concerns about the coronavirus to reach out for support, and promising future updates about the University’s response.

Jan. 30 – WU sends second email communication to student body regarding COVID-19

Dr. Cheri LeBlanc, Executive Director of the Habif Health and Wellness Center, confirmed that no cases of the coronavirus have been reported in St. Louis in the second email to the Danforth campus community regarding the virus, Jan. 30.

“Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St. Louis Children’s Hospital and Washington University Physicians are working closely with infectious-disease physicians at the medical school and local health departments to screen for any cases,” LeBlanc wrote. “We follow guidelines established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for identifying and managing patients of concern.”

LeBlanc added that students wearing masks on campus was not indicative of coronavirus having reached St. Louis.

Habif continued to ask that students reporting symptoms of fever, cough and difficulty breathing to call either Habif or the Barnes-Jewish Hospital emergency room to get evaluated, and not to arrive without calling first.

“The situation is changing rapidly, but we will provide updates when new information or guidance needs to be communicated,” LeBlanc wrote.

Jan. 29 – WU suspends University-sponsored travel to mainland China

The Washington University International Travel Oversight Committee (ITOC) Executive Body enacted a travel suspension condition for all University-sponsored travel to mainland China in the wake of the global coronavirus outbreak, Jan. 29.

The suspension was in accordance with the Center for Disease Control’s warning to avoid nonessential travel to mainland China and the US Department of State’s advisory to reconsider travel to mainland China. It applied to all University-sponsored or supported travel.

Jan. 24 – Initial email to student body

Executive Director of Habif Health and Wellness Center Cheri LeBlanc wrote that there is little cause for Washington University students to be concerned about the coronavirus in an email to the student body, Jan. 24.

According to the email, there were no reported cases of the virus at the University, and the virus posed a low public health risk to the general population.

“Nevertheless, our Emergency Management Team is taking proactive preparedness precautions,” LeBlanc wrote.

At the time, the global death toll from coronavirus was 56, and just five cases had been confirmed in the United States.

“Our Health Center providers are on high alert and working closely with our Infectious Disease colleagues at the Medical School as well as our local Public Health Department,” LeBlanc wrote.