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. 

GOT A NEWS TIP?
Call 734-418-4115 or e-mail 
news@michigandaily.com and let us know.

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
michigandaily.com

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

