The coronavirus pandemic is growing rapidly. Australia has a very limited window of opportunity to slow the spread of this virus by limiting non-essential human contact. The time to do so is BEFORE a spike in cases - that means right now. The university has an obligation to students and staff to keep them safe. It also has an ethical obligation to Australian society to avoid becoming a hub in the network of transmission.

There are very few sectors of society that can have as large an impact on the spread of disease as universities. The impact of school closures on viral transmission is well documented and should be one of the first public health interventions during a pandemic. By limiting contact between its 73,000 students, the university can have an enormous impact on the spread of this virus.

Sydney University should know this - as a world-class academic institution, it has pioneered sensible, scientific thinking around public health, yet at this critical juncture its actions do not reflect its core principles.

Students, staff and the wider community call on the University of Sydney to move classes online now. Not next week. Not after the census date. Not when cases spike. By then it will be too late.