Columbia University Suspends Classes Over COVID-19

Columbia University had canceled classes Monday and Tuesday, and hold them remotely for the rest of the week because of the coronavirus outbreak.

The decision was made after a person affiliated with the school was exposed to the coronavirus. The individual hasn’t been diagnosed with COVID-19, Columbia University President Lee C. Bollinger said in an email to students, Fox News reports.

"I am writing this evening to notify everyone that, because a member of our community has been quarantined as a result of exposure to the Coronavirus (COVID-19), we have decided to suspend classes on Monday and Tuesday," Bollinger wrote. "I want to emphasize that the individual who has been quarantined has not been diagnosed at this point with the virus."

"Please understand that the decision to suspend classes does not mean that the University is shutting down," Bollinger added. "This action is intended to prevent the virus from spreading."

The shutown comes a week before scheduled for spring break, which would cover the typical 14-day quarantine period for the virus.