Tag: Caronavirus

Ohio State suspends face-to-face classes amid Caronavirus concerns

According to multiple reports, the Ohio State University has made the decision to suspend in-person classes as a proactive effort to curb the spread of the Caronavirus. Eleven Warriors was the first to break the news after the discovery of a …

According to multiple reports, the Ohio State University has made the decision to suspend in-person classes as a proactive effort to curb the spread of the Caronavirus.

Eleven Warriors was the first to break the news after the discovery of a university-wide email. Since then Ohio State has confirmed the move and other outlets have reported the measure as well. The move is temporary for now, and is to go through at least March 30. The university is currently on Spring Break so there is time to get everything in-line for things to be done virtually and remotely.

“We are suspending face-to-face instruction in lectures, discussion sections, seminars and other similar classroom settings and moving to virtual instruction, effective immediately and through at least Monday, March 30,” President Michael Drake said in the email. “We are evaluating classroom experiences such as laboratory and performance classes, and the university will provide specific guidance this week. We will reevaluate these guidelines on an ongoing basis and share updates or modifications as more information becomes available.”

The university also provided policies on travel and event scheduling. For now, all non-essential travel has been postponed, and event organizers have been encouraged to evaluate whether already scheduled events should go on. No further non-essential events are to be scheduled through April 20.

The move comes as three cases of the novel Caronavirus came back as positive in the Cleveland area, the first known cases reported in Ohio.

So far there is no news on how this will play out for athletic events, but the Spring Game is scheduled for April 11. If any further guidance or news comes out for this and any other athletic events, we will pass it along.

 

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WATCH: Nick Bosa give awkward Super Bowl PSA about Caronavirus

Watch as San Francisco 49er defensive end Nick Bosa provide a PSA on the Caronavirus at a Super Bowl media event for his “China friends.”

Okay, first and foremost, the Caronavirus is no laughing matter. That being said, asking an NFL player to comment on it is a little ridiculous and akward, just ask former Ohio State and current San Francisco 49er defensive end Nick Bosa.

While appearing at a media event at the Super Bowl, Bosa was asked to provide some comments to people in China about the spread of the Caronavirus. No, it was not a joke. We’re not sure why that’s newsworthy, or why that question was the one circulating in the reporter’s head, but nonetheless, it made the cut.

And true to Bosa fashion, the response was worth a listen. It was indeed a bit awkward and a bit forced, but seemed intent on being sincere.

“To all my Chinese friends out there, wash your hands and stay clean because there’s a virus going around,” said Bosa. “And uh, Hang in there.” You can click on the below shared by 49ers NFL reporter Cam Inman.

I’d love to say this type of stuff is made up, but it is not.

Caronavirus has not struck in Central Ohio, but if it did, how would Ohio State athletics react?

Miami (OH) has postponed two basketball games while it awaits results on potential Caronavirus exposure. What if it happened at Ohio State?

Let me be clear here that there are no confirmed reports of Caronavirus in Central Ohio. However, with some news filtering in on other sporting events that have already been affected, the chance is there that it could impact Ohio State athletics should the virus be found in and around the OSU campus.

We’ve already seen Miami (OH) postpone both a men’s and women’s basketball game while it awaits test results to see if a couple of students who had recently traveled to China are positive for the virus. Those results are expected later this week.  In addition, there are confirmed reports that the Chinese women’s soccer team is now being quarantined in Brisbane, Australia in an effort to stop the spread of the virus.

So, the virus that’s getting so much attention in the media is already impacting the sporting world. It’s not a major impact, but that could change if things spread further.

But what if the Caronavirus did make its way to Central Ohio? One would have to assume that further steps would have to be taken, and that it would have an impact on athletic events at Ohio State if the virus hit close enough to home.

Since inquiring minds want to know, we reached out to the Ohio State athletic department to see if they had a comment on the matter. As it stands now, it appears as though things are status quo, but that could change based on information from health officials.

“We are not considering anything like that at this time because there are no cases in Central Ohio and the recommendation of our local, state and federal public health officials is that no changes in activities are necessary,” said an OSU athletic department spokesman.

That all makes sense, and hopefully there’s no reason to have to act further. You can bet OSU officials are on top of things should anything similar happen at Ohio State.