Longwood classes move online through March 27

Published 11:26 am Saturday, March 14, 2020

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Longwood University has announced a move to online classes until at least Friday, March 27.

The message from Longwood President W. Taylor Reveley IV Friday afternoon, March 13, followed a Wednesday, March 11, announcement that the university was canceling in-person classes and events until at least this coming Wednesday, March 18.

The Friday announcement said all campus events were canceled through March 27 as well.

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“It remains our hope to return to in-person classes as soon as possible,” the message from Reveley read. “But no matter what, we will closely follow developments and expert guidance with community health paramount. We will make an announcement no later than Wednesday, March 25, regarding next steps.”

The moves comes after a Longwood University student received a presumptive positive test result for the coronavirus Wednesday, March 11. Two students who shared living space with the student have been quarantined. One student remains in the area but not on the central Longwood campus. The other student chose to return home to quarantine there.

Reveley addressed some concerns in the community that only two students have been placed under quarantine.

“Finally, I know many in our community continue to have special concerns now that there has been a positive COVID-19 test in our community. Regarding that case, the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) has been in contact with anyone who it believes requires assessment or testing based on contact with that person,” Reveley wrote.

Reveley said the VDH continues to believe the generalized risk of transmission to the campus community remains low.

The Longwood campus remains open. Students may continue to reside in Longwood housing facilities. Dining services are operating at a reduced schedule. Some dining options have been closed.

The Longwood student continues to be the only reported case of the coronavirus in the area. There were 30 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Virginia as of Saturday, March 14.