Harvard publicizes January transfer to distant studying, work as COVID-19 case numbers rise

Harvard College introduced on Saturday that it might be transitioning to distant studying for a number of weeks in January amid a rise of latest circumstances within the space and across the nation.

In a letter to the varsity’s neighborhood, Harvard officers stated that for the primary three weeks of January, “we’ll take steps to cut back density on campus by transferring a lot of our studying and work remotely.” 

The letter famous that college students who had obtained approval from their particular college or earlier authorization can be the one college students allowed to stay on or return to campus in the course of the three-week interval.

Harvard officers acknowledged that some applications, together with these requiring work in labs, would proceed in individual however stated others would transition to distant work.

College officers signaled that the transfer was anticipated to be non permanent, with “a return to extra strong on-campus actions later in January, public well being situations allowing.”

“Please know that we don’t take this step flippantly. It’s prompted by the fast rise in COVID-19 circumstances regionally and throughout the nation, in addition to the rising presence of the extremely transmissible Omicron variant,” Harvard officers wrote. “It’s strengthened by the steering of public well being specialists who’ve suggested the College all through the pandemic. As at all times, we make this resolution with the well being and security of our neighborhood as our prime precedence.”

Earlier this week, a Maryland college district additionally introduced it might briefly be transitioning to distant studying. 

The bulletins come because the U.S. has began to see an uptick of circumstances and the unfold of the omicron variant, which scientists are racing to study extra about.