COVID-19: Here’s What Temple Students Need to Know

This story is developing. Last updated version is 5:47 p.m.

By Lindsay Bowen

Temple University has yet to announce any action in light of the coronavirus outbreak, despite other universities in the area canceling in-person classes and moving to online classes. 

As of Tuesday, there is one confirmed case of COVID-19 in Philadelphia, with 16 total cases in Pennsylvania. New Jersey announced its first virus-related death on Tuesday, with 23 COVID-19 cases confirmed. The World Health Organization officially declared the virus as a pandemic earlier today. Over 124,000 cases are confirmed globally, The New York Times reported.

City officials are warning against large gatherings of over 5,000 people, but concerts and sporting events at the Wells Fargo Center are still on. The city’s beloved St. Patrick’s Day parade scheduled for March 15 is canceled. A Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia cardiologist in King of Prussia contracted the virus and is in critical condition. At least 17 employees and over 20 patients were likely exposed to the virus.

Here’s what other universities in the region are doing:

• All state-related colleges besides Temple have moved classes online, The Temple News reported. This includes Pennsylvania State University, University of Pittsburgh, and Lincoln University.

• The University of Pennsylvania extended its spring break for one week and moved all classes online, beginning March 23, until the end of this semester. Penn students must move off campus by March 15.

• All Penn State classes were moved to remote instruction, starting March 16.

• West Chester University, the Commonwealth’s largest state-run school, suspended in-person classes on Tuesday and is moving to online classes for the rest of its semester. 

• Rutgers University shut down most of its campus and is asking students to leave immediately. It is moving to online classes after its spring break on March 23.

• Bucknell University canceled face-to-face classes for the remainder of its semester. Students in dorms are being asked to move out.

• Haverford College moved classes online until April 6.

• Villanova University is moving classes online starting Monday and is urging students to return home if they can.

• Swarthmore College is extending its spring break until March 20 and will resume with online classes on March 23. 

• Bryn Mawr College is holding online classes from March 16 to April 3.

Some Temple students are upset about Temple’s response, or lack thereof. There’s even a petition to move classes online, with more than 2,000 signatures recorded.

The city of Philadelphia : *releases statement saying they’re taking serious precautions regarding the virus and ppl should stay away from crowds of 5,000+*
Temple university (a school w over 30,000 students) : lol here’s a pic of broad street at night 😜🤙🏽 https://t.co/00k5cAz2ce

— Jul (@jul_swift) March 11, 2020

so... social distancing may be the foremost weapon in fighting the coronavirus ... and @TempleUniv hasn’t informed or communicated with us about canceling in-person classes? with lectures that hold over hundreds of students? this isn’t about laziness, it’s about precautions

— didem (@clamchowdered) March 11, 2020

Temple University: Please wash your hands for 20 seconds with warm water and soap to prevent the spread of COVID-19

Also Temple: All the soap dispensers are empty and the automatic sinks only have cold water and stay on for 10 seconds at a time maximum

— McKelvey (@imeazy_e) March 9, 2020

Mumps talking to coronavirus once it gets to temple university pic.twitter.com/cvXpHpP374

— tarek (@Clittarek) March 10, 2020

Everyone at Temple University: pic.twitter.com/YSgEOUlXH5

— TSUNAMI LAI🌊 (@a6dulai) March 11, 2020

The university advised faculty to prepare to move to online instruction on Monday in an email on Monday. There are no known cases of COVID-19 affiliated with Temple.

Temple University Rome closed for the remainder of the semester and is holding online classes. Rome campus students were asked to return home on Feb. 29, and professors began teaching online classes on Monday. 

Temple University Japan began holding classes online for two weeks on March 2. The university is also asking students on TUportal if they traveled out of the state or country over spring break.

As for international students, universities moving their classes online will not affect those with F-1 or J-1 visas, The Temple News reported.

There are a lot of unanswered questions and concerns. If Main Campus closes, will residence halls be shut down? Will students be displaced? Are all professors capable of transitioning to online classes? Will this interfere with graduation plans?

Wash your hands, please. Take a break from the news if you need to. Take care of yourself.