DETROIT — Wayne State University has suspended face-to-face classes and spring sports for 10 days starting April 7 due to rising cases of COVID-19, President M. Roy Wilson announced.
The only exception to the in-person class suspension is for clinical rotations in the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, College of Nursing and School of Medicine, Wilson said. Lab research also must take steps to reduce on-site activity for authorized personnel by 25%, effective April 7, and prepare for a contingency plan for additional reductions, Wilson said.
With the exception of critical infrastructure employees, those who can work effectively from home should do so, Wilson said.
Other measures taken by the university include:
- Guest access to student housing is restricted effective at noon on April 7. Students currently living in campus housing are permitted to continue doing so, and must continue to follow all campus health and safety guidelines
- The bookstore will close to in-person shopping. All services, including regalia ordering, remain available online and by phone, Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Towers Café will move to take-out dining only.
- Campus libraries remain open but may be subject to increased restrictions. Specific information may be found in the Library Access and Services Guide.
- The Mort Harris Recreation and Fitness Center is closed except for COVID-19 testing.
- The Student Center Building is closed except for individuals attending the vaccine clinic.
- The W Food Pantry remains open and will facilitate technology loans for students in need.
The university will re-examine metrics on campus, in the region and across the state in 10 days and re-engage suspended activities if the situation has improved, Wilson said. If current metrics continue to show a heightened infection rate, the period of limited on-campus activities will be extended accordingly, Wilson said.
“We continue to urge members of campus to get a vaccination if they haven’t yet done so. And while we are all hopeful about the future with the rollout of vaccinations, we must continue to take the appropriate precautions to ensure the health and safety of our campus and the broader Detroit community. Thank you for doing your part to help keep our campus Warrior Strong,” Wilson said.
Wilson’s full statement can be found here.
The state reported 10,293 new COVID-19 cases and 21 additional deaths between Sunday and Monday, April 4-5. The state has averaged 5,961 new COVID-19 cases per day and 29 new deaths per day in the last week.
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