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The University of Alberta suspended classes Friday as it evaluates recommendations made by the province’s chief medical officer of health over COVID-19 concerns.

The university announced on-campus classes are suspended effective immediately. The campus remains open to allow consultation with public health experts, government officials and other post-secondaries on appropriate next steps.

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“We have taken a pause and temporarily suspended classes today, as we looked at the directives that came out yesterday with respect to large gatherings and the challenge we face on a university campus where we have dozens and dozens of classes and classrooms that exceed that capacity,” said Andrew Sharman, vice-president facilities at a news conference Friday morning.

The move comes after Dr. Deena Hinshawrecommended events with more than 250 people be cancelled in order to limit the spread of COVID-19.

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The added challenge, Sharman said, is multiple large-sized classes in the same building finishing at the same time, where there’s the opportunity for significant numbers of people in close contact.

The university has 38,000 students on this campus, plus 14,000 staff, plus visitors, and large classes with as many as 500 students in one room, Sharman said.