Since the first cases of the novel
coronavirus
(COVID-19)
were
confirmed in Michigan last week,
doctors and hospital officials at
Michigan Medicine have begun
preparing for a steep increase in
cases as the virus spreads.
There are 65 confirmed cases
of
COVID-19
in
Michigan
as
of Tuesday, including seven in
Washtenaw County.
Shortly after the first two cases
of the virus in the state were
announced on March 10, Michigan
Medicine confirmed it was treating
one of the patients.
According to the Detroit Free
Press,
on
Tuesday
morning,
Michigan Medicine CEO Marschall
Runge
said
the
hospital
is
currently caring for two confirmed
coronavirus patients and “treating
several patients” who are awaiting
testing
results.
However,
the
Michigan Medicine website notes
it will not be disclosing the current
number of COVID-19 patients as the
situation is rapidly evolving.
Michigan Medicine announced
on Monday the opening of a new
32-bed isolation unit in order
to handle a possible influx of
coronavirus cases. The new unit,
known as the Regional Infectious
Containment Unit, will be used to
care solely for patients diagnosed
with COVID-19.
Michael
Mulholland,
senior
associate dean for clinical affairs at
Michigan Medicine and executive
director
of
the
University
of
Michigan Medical Group, spoke
Tuesday afternoon in a media call
about limited curbside screening for
Michigan Medicine patients who
have been referred to the hospital by
their doctors. Mulholland said there
are now three screening centers
available to Michigan Medicine
employees and patients if they are
showing symptoms.
The University of Michigan’s
Ann Arbor campus has an eerie,
ghostlike feel to it.
In the past week, each day has
come with a new blow to normalcy
because of the coronavirus. First,
in-person classes were canceled.
Next came all sports competitions.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer ordered all
Michigan restaurants, bars and other
public places of accommodation to
shut down temporarily, meaning
that on-campus dining halls and
libraries
have
closed.
Today,
another blow — students in dorms
must leave unless they “truly have
no other alternatives,” and other
students have also been urged to
leave campus.
The
changes
have
impacted
everyone
in
the
University
community, as well as people
worldwide. But especially for those
finishing their final year, the timing
of this global pandemic could not be
worse. On Wednesday, they attended
classes unaware that these in-person
meetings would be their last. They
had to cancel large, meaningful
events of their senior year, such as
concerts and competitions. And
then on Friday, March 13, University
President Mark Schlissel sent out
an email confirming that Spring
Commencement was canceled.
“I probably cried for a solid 40
minutes, and I don’t really cry. I
wouldn’t say I’m a crier,” LSA senior
Sydney Moore said.
Schlissel’s
initial
email
contained a few sentences saying
commencement was canceled and
that the University “will look at
ways to celebrate 2020 graduates in
the future.” A follow-up email from
Acting Provost Susan Collins and
Interim Vice President for Student
Life Simone Himbeault Taylor, sent
first to parents and then to students,
elaborated more on the decision.
“We know that this decision
is very upsetting for many of our
graduates and their families. Our
students work incredibly hard to
reach this milestone, and those
who earn a Michigan degree
deserve to be celebrated with their
friends, professors, families and
loved ones. Commencement is one
of our favorite times of the year,
as well,” Collins and Himbeault
Taylor wrote. “At the same time,
we want commencement to be safe
– for our graduates, the hundreds
of employees who prepare for and
work during the ceremonies, and
the tens of thousands who join us
to celebrate.”
Collins and Himbeault Taylor
said
the
University
will
find
another date for the Class of 2020’s
commencement and will share that
information as soon as possible.
Still, an abrupt end to college
as they know it with no May
graduation ceremony is jarring,
according
to
the
graduating
students
who
spoke
to
The
Michigan Daily. They know it isn’t
the University’s fault, and that
canceling the ceremony is for the
best. But for these students it’s still
an upsetting turn of events.
Here are some of the names, faces
and stories, in their own words, of
the University of Michigan Class
of 2020. Some quotes have been
condensed for clarity.
michigandaily.com
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Wednesday, March 18, 2020
ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-NINE YEARS OF EDITORIAL FREEDOM
For graduating students, their final college
moments came and went before they knew it
As coronavirus outbreak forces campus to shut down, students lose chance to celebrate milestones together
ALLISON ENGKVIST/Daily
University of Michigan graduating students share their feelings towards not having a graduation and ending classes a month earlier than anticipated.
LIAT WEINSTEIN
& CLAIRE HAO
Daily News Editors
See SENIORS, Page 3
GOT A NEWS TIP?
Call 734-418-4115 or e-mail
news@michigandaily.com and let us know.
INDEX
Vol. CXXIX, No. 85
©2020 The Michigan Daily
N E W S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
O P I N I O N . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
A R T S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
michigandaily.com
For more stories and coverage, visit
Follow The Daily
on Instagram,
@michigandaily
HOUSING
All
students
living
in
University
of
Michigan
residence halls must leave
campus unless they fill out a
request to remain in housing,
according to an email sent
to everyone still living on
campus Tuesday afternoon.
If their request is approved,
the email notes, they are not
guaranteed to continue their
current housing assignment
and may have to move to a new
building.
Students must request to
remain in residence halls
EMMA STEIN
Daily News Editor
Residents
pushed to
leave dorms
Michigan Medicine adjusts to fight virus
New 32-bed isolation unit among measures being taken to prepare for incoming cases
See DORMS, Page 2
ELIZABETH LAWRENCE
& MAYA GOLDMAN
Editor in Chief
& Daily Staff Reporter
ALLISON ENGKVIST/Daily
There are 65 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Michigan, including seven in Washtenaw County,
as of Tuesday.
Read more at
MichiganDaily.com
statement
THE MICHIGAN DAILY | MARCH 18, 2020