The novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, has now spread to over 85,000 people around the globe and has caused almost 3,000 deaths, both totals higher than the SARS and MERS epidemics of the past. This virus can stay in the body for two weeks or more without showing symptoms, but over this incubation period, the virus can still be transmitted to others.

Infected individuals are capable of spreading the virus without their knowledge. Many students at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign are from the Chicagoland area, where the fourth case of COVID-19 in Illinois was confirmed today (3/2/20). While there are currently no reported cases on the UIUC campus, it is extremely likely that students could have already come in contact with the virus. Students may be infected and bring this virus into school buildings and other public spaces on campus. With over 44,000 students at UIUC, we can't rule out any possibilities.

Nearly a week ago, the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) and WHO (World Health Organization) warned that the spread of coronavirus in the U.S. is "inevitable," even urging businesses, schools, and families to begin preparing for the outbreak. In the Champaign-Urbana area (as well as nearly all suburbs of Chicago) all grocery and convenience stores are quickly selling out of hand sanitizers, hand soaps, medications, and even toilet paper as people prepare for the rapid spread of the virus. Overnight, Italy experienced a 50% increase in the number of reported cases of COVID-19. It is not dismissible that the U.S. could experience this rapid growth, with the number of cases in the U.S. reaching 100 as of 3pm today.

With the return of students from abroad programs where "Level 4" travel advisories have been implemented, the health and safety of each student is being jeopardized. This virus can lay dormant for two or more weeks, making the mandatory two-week quarantine period essentially unreliable. Likewise, urging over 44,000 students to wash their hands and maintain proper hygiene is unreliable.

We are asking the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Chancellor Robert J. Jones to begin preparing and implementing online schooling to prevent the spreading of this virus and provide safety and peace of mind for all students, since this virus may lay dormant for two weeks or even more in some cases. In classrooms, dining halls and during other crowded areas, the virus will inevitably infect people thus increasing the infection rate exponentially.

Considering this, we urge the UIUC campus to make the responsible decisions to close campus and facilities while moving towards online programs in order to prevent further spread across Illinois and keep students, their families, and the public safe.