4 universities, NBCC curtail or cancel classes because of outbreak

The University of New Brunswick, St. Thomas University in Fredericton and the University of Moncton are suspending in-person classes because of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Mount Allison is suspending classes for the rest of the school year.

New Brunswick Community College has cancelled in-person classes on all campuses next week.

The province has one confirmed case of COVID-19, and 18people have tested negative.

Slightly different plans

The universities made slightly different announcements throughout the day Friday in response to the outbreak.

University of Monctonsaid classes will be suspended until March 30.

At UNB, starting onMarch 23, classes will resume using "alternative methods," the administration said.

"Specific support will be offered to faculty members to help in this transition," UNB said on its Facebook page.

UNB campuses, including residences, will also stay open.

"We are working to ensure students will be able to finish their term on time, adhering to the current exam schedule," UNB said.

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At St. Thomas University, teaching is cancelled next Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday to allow staff and faculty to prepare online instructions.

Jeffrey Carleton, a spokesperson for St. Thomas,said the suspension of in-person classes will last until April. 9.The campus will stay open, but all discretionary events are cancelled.

St. Thomas Universityhas given foreign and domestic students the option to return home.

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Mount A said students can go home if they want, but faculty will let all students know by the end of next week how they canfinish their courses.

"All students will have a pathway to complete each course and gain full academic credit for it," the university said in a letter to the campus community.