ANN ARBOR, MI — Universities across the country have begun to move classes online due the coronavirus outbreak that is quickly spreading around the world.

The University of Michigan, however, has not yet joined the list, but a petition to do so has garnered more than 6,000 signatures in less than 24 hours.

UM student Amber Renton started the petition and said while college-aged young adults are not at risk, they’re concerned about the older parents, grandparents, faculty and staff that they regularly see.

“Many universities — including the University of Michigan Ann Arbor — are set up such that infectious diseases spread incredibly quickly,” Renton wrote in the petition description. “... This is the perfect environment for an infectious and dangerous disease to spread.”

Michigan coronavirus patient being treated at University of Michigan Health System

Renton wrote that students share dormitories, communal bathrooms, tightly packed lecture halls and dining halls, and with spring break over, almost 50,000 students “who’ve been to many corners of the country and the world are congregating once again in close quarters with their peers,” Renton wrote.

In the petition, Renton acknowledges students are being reactive instead of proactive, but says it’s better to be careful now “even if the coronavirus somehow isn’t on campus than to be sorry later with thousands infected and infecting others at an uncontrollable rate.”

Renton also noted that for students of low socioeconomic status, canceling university housing and meal plans could be “financially ruinous” and asks UM to consider giving accommodations or partial refunds of meal plans to students affected.

Ann Arbor Public Schools cancels after-school activities as it plans for coronavirus

UM has not yet responded to a request for comment on the petition.

Two Michigan residents have tested “presumptive positive” for coronavirus and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said she’s declaring a state of emergency.

One of the patients is an Oakland County woman with a recent history of international travel. The other is a Wayne County man who had a recent history of domestic travel, state officials told MLive.

Both are middle-aged and hospitalized, according to state officials.

Gov. Whitmer declares state of emergency as first coronavirus cases confirmed in Michigan

UM has placed travel restrictions on the entire countries of China, Italy and South Korea. Undergraduate students may not proceed with UM-related travel to the countries, and the university is discouraging any personal travel as well.

Grand Valley State University previously canceled study abroad trips due to the virus, and the UM football team scrapped its planned spring trip after coach Jim Harbaugh asked his administration to choose a foreign locale.

Coronavirus fears force Michigan football to scrap planned spring trip

Read more about coronavirus here.

PREVENTION TIPS

Much like how you would try to prevent the flu, you want to stay away from people who are sick and practice good hygiene, says the CDC.

The latter means thoroughly washing your hands for at least 20 seconds, especially after using the bathroom and before eating. Avoid touching your mouth or face unless your hands are clean.

Use household cleaners to disinfect commonly touched objects and surfaces. Use disinfectant wipes to clean your hands or surfaces such as shopping-cart handles when out in public.

Some people are going the extra step and using smartphone sanitizers as a precaution, but a disinfecting wipe used lightly on the outside will likely work fine, too.