University of Michigan students were told to stay home by county officials on Wednesday, hoping to contain the spread of a contagious coronavirus variant.
The Washtenaw County Department of Health said its recommendation “has full support” from school officials.
“Students are being asked to stay at the addresses in the campus area and not meet with other people outside of their families,” according to a statement from the health department.
“Students are allowed to leave their homes only to participate in limited activities, including face-to-face classes, work or research that cannot be completed remotely, obtaining food and medical care and other approved activities.”
This new, more contagious variant of the coronavirus makes public health officials nervous, fearing that the disease could spread quickly, even if more vaccines are administered across the country.
The University of Michigan is home to more than 31,000 undergraduate students and nearly 17,000 graduate students.
About 90% of the school’s courses are already virtual. The practical impact of Wednesday’s recommendation is to prevent students from meeting outside of classrooms, said health department spokeswoman Susan Ringler Cerniglia.
“We are very concerned about the potential of this variant to spread quickly,” said Jimena Loveluck, Washtenaw’s health officer, in a statement. “We are working closely with the university to take coordinated measures to control the current outbreak and understand the situation more fully. “
The health department wants college students to stay home, unless they go out to buy food or medicine, go to the doctor, attend religious services or exercise outdoors, Cerniglia said.
