The 2019 novel coronavirus
(COVID-19)
has
spread
to
countries around the world
and across the United States
since
its
identification
in
Wuhan, China last December.
Yesterday, two cases of COVID-
19
were
confirmed
in
the
state of Michigan, and Gov.
Gretchen Whitmer declared a
state of emergency. One of the
two patients with COVID-19
in Michigan is an inpatient at
Michigan Medicine.
University President Mark
Schlissel announced Wednesday
that all classes, beginning on
Monday, will be moved online.
Classes for Thursday and Friday
were canceled. Study abroad
programs for spring were also
discontinued. In the days prior
to the announcement, students,
faculty and staff waited for
updates, sometimes frustrated
by a lack of information.
Emily Toth Martin, associate
professor of epidemiology at the
School of Public Health who
studies
virus
epidemiology,
said COVID-19 will likely not
affect a majority of people who
contract it.
The University of Michigan
announced on Wednesday all
classes on all three campuses
will be held online beginning
March 16 through the end of the
semester, April 21, in response
to the COVID-19 virus. Classes
on Thursday and Friday will be
canceled. However, the University
will remain open, including dorms
and dining halls.
In a statement shared on
Twitter,
University
President
Mark Schlissel wrote the changes
are meant to maximize the safety
of the campus communities.
“To protect the health and
safety
of
our
communities
and minimize the spread of
#COVID19, @UMich is making
changes to classes, travel, study
abroad and large events on our
Ann Arbor, @UM_Dearborn and
@UMFlint campuses,” Schlissel
wrote.
Events expected to attract
more than 100 people will also
be canceled, including Honors
Convocation. According to the
statement, updates about plans
for
commencement
will
be
provided when more information
is available.
On-campus sporting events will
be limited to parents and members
of the press.
The statement noted all spring
study abroad programs through
the University will be canceled
or altered, given the severity of
the outbreak. All other University
international travel will also be
suspended, except under rare
circumstances requiring approval.
Programs starting July 1 or later
will be evaluated over the coming
weeks.
The World Health Organization
declared the COVID-19 outbreak
a global pandemic Wednesday
afternoon as the virus continues
to spread globally.
The move to online classes
comes a day after Gov. Gretchen
Whitmer signed an executive order
declaring a state of emergency
following the diagnosis of the first
two cases of the COVID-19 virus
in Michigan.
In a press conference Tuesday
evening,
Whitmer
said
she
declared the state of emergency
to maximize efforts and to assist
local governments and officials in
slowing the spread of COVID-19.
michigandaily.com
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Thursday, March 12, 2020
ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-NINE YEARS OF EDITORIAL FREEDOM
One of the two people
confirmed to have COVID-
19 in the state of Michigan
by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer
Tuesday night is an inpatient
at
Michigan
Medicine,
according to an update from
Michigan Medicine.
Whitmer declared a state of
emergency Tuesday evening in
a press conference. According
to Whitmer, one individual
is a woman from Oakland
County
who
has
recently
traveled internationally, while
the other is a man in Wayne
County who has a recent
history of domestic travel.
Both are middle-aged.
Michigan
Medicine
CEO Marschall Runge said
Michigan Medicine had been
anticipating treating cases of
COVID-19 if they occurred.
“For
weeks,
Michigan
Medicine teams have been
preparing to care for patients
infected
with
COVID-19
if the need arises,” Runge
wrote. “Our teams will take
all necessary precautions to
triage patients appropriately
and prevent the spread of the
virus.”
In an email to The Daily,
Mary
Masson,
Michigan
Medicine director of public
relations, wrote that she cannot
share any further information
to protect the patient’s privacy,
but noted Michigan Medicine is
confident it has minimized the
risk of exposure for employees
and visitors.
According to the statement,
the patient has been isolated
and the necessary precautions
are being taken. The patient is
in stable condition.
“We are confident that we
have used proper precautions
with this patient who was
carefully isolated to minimize
the risk of exposure to our
employees and patients,” the
statement reads.
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INDEX
Vol. CXXIX, No. 79
©2020 The Michigan Daily
NEWS......................... 2A
OPINION.....................4A
CL ASSIFIEDS ..............6A
S U D O K U . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 A
S P O R T S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 A
A R T S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 B
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For more stories and coverage, visit
Philbert
removed
from role
as provost
ADMINISTRATION
1 of 2 confirmed coronavirus patients
being treated at Michigan Medicine
Risk for employees and visitors remains low as individual receives treatment
in isolation while situation closely monitored, according to statement from hospital
RESEARCH
Follow The Daily
on Instagram,
@michigandaily
HANNAH MACKAY
& JASMIN LEE
Daily Staff Reporters
Experts discuss ability
to respond to pandemic
locally; campus confused
about status of programs
See STEM, Page 3
See CANCELED, Page 3
Students,
professors
worried by
COVID-19
Since late January, he
has been on paid leave
due to multiple sexual
misconduct allegations
University
of
Michigan
Provost Martin A. Philbert
has
been
removed
from
his position as one of the
University’s
top
officials,
according to a statement from
the University spokesperson
Rick Fitzgerald. Philbert had
been on paid administrative
leave since Jan. 21 following
multiple accusations of sexual
misconduct.
The
statement
says
University
President
Mark
Schlissel informed Philbert of
his termination in a letter on
Wednesday.
“Martin A. Philbert has been
removed
as
executive
vice
president for academic affairs
and provost at the University
of Michigan,” the statement
reads. “In a letter dated March
11, President Mark Schlissel
informed Philbert that he had
lost confidence in his ability
to serve as provost based on
information that has come to
light so far in an investigation
regarding his behavior.”
BARBARA COLLINS,
CLAIRE HAO &
EMMA STEIN
Daily News Editors
LEAH GRAHAM,
BARBARA COLLINS
& EMMA STEIN
Managing News Editor &
Daily News Editors
See PATIENT, Page 3
See PHILBERT, Page 3
FILE PHOTO/Daily
Michigan Medicine has taken in one of the two patients confirmed to have COVID-19 in the state of Michigan on Tuesday night.
SAYALI AMIN,
CLAIRE HAO
& ALEX HARRING
Managing News Editor &
Daily News Editors
See CONCERN, Page 3
CLASS CANCELED
DOMINICK SOKOTOFF/Daily
2 DAYS OFF, COURSES MOVED ONLINE AMID COVID-19 OUTBREAK