Michigan State University became the first public university in Michigan to suspend face-to-face classes, going online only starting at noon Wednesday.

The suspension of in-person classes will last until April 20, MSU President Samuel Stanley wrote in an email to the university.

"We will re-evaluate this decision on an ongoing basis," he said. "During this time period, students doing purely remote work can return to their permanent place of residence and we strongly encourage this because there are advantages for social distancing.

"But for those not able to go home, we will continue to fully support students in our residence halls and dining facilities."

The news comes as health officials revealed an MSU student had come into close contact with an infected coronavirus patient from Wayne County. The student has been tested for the disease. Those results are still pending.

Campus will remain open, the announcement said, but the university is evaluating some major events that are already scheduled and "will not be scheduling new events with more than 100 individuals in a confined space during for this time period unless there are special circumstances."

[Michigan announced its first confirmed cases of coronavirus Tuesday. Read more here.]

Universities across the nation have cancelled in-person classes. Those include Indiana University, Purdue University and Ohio State University.

The move is impacting college sports as well.

More:Coronavirus in Michigan: How to stay safe, and stop the spread of the virus

More:Coronavirus outbreak: Is Michigan prepared for widespread COVID-19 cases?

The Mid-American Conference, which includes several Michigan schools, are playing their basketball tournament games in spectator-free gyms this week.

The Ivy League cancelled its basketball tournament and said it would limit spectators in other sports.

The NCAA basketball tournament is still on for now.

“As we have stated, we will make decisions on our events based on the best, most current public health guidance available,” NCAA President Mark Emmert said in a statement. “Neither the NCAA COVID-19 advisory panel, made up of leading public health and infectious disease experts in America, nor the CDC or local health officials have advised against holding sporting events. In the event circumstances change, we will make decisions accordingly.”

The Lansing State Journal contributed to this report.

Contact David Jesse: 313-222-8851 or djesse@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter: @reporterdavidj