Monash University postpones start of term in light of growing Coronavirus outbreak

Monash University in Australia, one of the University of Warwick’s closest and most popular partner institutions, will be postponing the start of term due to the growing Coronavirus outbreak.

As Monash students have yet to return for the start of term, the university announced that the first week of the semester, currently scheduled to start on 2 March, will be delayed by a week to 9 March. Online study will take place for the first week postponed.

Exams scheduled for the week commencing 3 February and summer will also be delayed, along with orientation activities.

“All University travel to China has ceased, in line with Australian Government travel recommendations,” the university’s website wrote. “We suggest that all students and staff who have returned to Australia from China remain at their home for 14 days and follow the health advice of the Department of Health.”

While they are “continuing to monitor the rapidly evolving novel coronavirus situation and acting accordingly”, they acknowledged that they have had to make “difficult decisions that (they) understand may be of concern to both students and staff”.

“The novel coronavirus has created an unprecedented situation where some of our community of students and staff will not make it back in time from affected areas or isolation in time for the commencement of semester 1, 2020.

“We have made these decisions to ensure the entire Monash staff and student body is able to begin the semester together with the highest regard for community wellbeing.

“With the escalation of the novel coronavirus and the suggestions for self isolation, these decisions will ensure the entire Monash student body is able to begin the semester at the same time with the highest regard for staff and student wellbeing.”

I’m happy to see Monash making the necessary health precautions, being considerate of the students who wouldn’t be able to make it back in time for start of semester and speaking out against the racism and xenophobia happening in light of the virus

– Warwick student at Monash University

Responding to Monash’s decision, the University of Warwick said: “We fully understand Monash’s decision to have this short delay, and we are working closely with our Monash colleagues to ensure that all or our students are fully informed about the best travel and teaching arrangements in what continues be an evolving situation, not just in Australia but across the globe.

“Warwick’s student mobility team have already been in contact with Warwick students who are about to travel to Monash to ensure that they are aware of the short delay, and they will be back in touch with them with more details soon. It may for instance mean that some elements of orientation week and early teaching may have to be delivered online but Warwick students will be kept fully informed of all such arrangements.”

As of the morning of 4 February (GMT), there have been 12 total confirmed cases of Coronavirus in Australia: four in New South Wales, four in Victoria – where Monash University is located – two in South Australia, and two in Queensland.

One Warwick student on exchange there told The Boar: “I’m happy to see Monash making the necessary health precautions, being considerate of the students who wouldn’t be able to make it back in time for start of semester and speaking out against the racism and xenophobia happening in light of the virus.

“I just hope it continues to communicate with the students about what is happening and be as transparent as possible.”

Meanwhile at Warwick, departments have been advised by the University to ensure they have “a clear understanding whether any staff or students have travelled to or from China in the past two weeks to ensure that those students and staff are safe, and to help Public Health England (PHE) with their efforts to contain coronavirus”.

An email received by students in the English department titled “Travel to China?” yesterday read: “We urgently need to know if anyone in the department has travelled to or from China in the last two weeks.”

It advised students to contact coronavirusenquiries@warwick.ac.uk. The University explained that departments should use the information gathered to “apply the current PHE advice which is that all travellers that have come from Wuhan or the surrounding Hubei Province should isolate themselves for 14 days.

“PHE also advise that anyone returning from any other part of mainland China should also self-isolate, but only if they show symptoms.”