How Coronavirus affected Harvard?

The rapid spread of Coronavirus has affected the whole world, so, even the top universities have been forced to take various measures for the safety of students and staff. Major US universities like Harvard, Columbia, and Princeton are forced to move classes online which is affecting thousands of students. Harvard University has also been affected due to this pandemic. The university is also monitoring the situation closely and taking decisive action to limit the spread of COVID-19 while at the same time continuing with its teaching and research mission. Some of the students have moved to their home country while very few have remained on campus and are adjusting to the new way of living. The university is following all the measures advised by the government and US authorities like social distancing, wearing masks, etc.

The university has already moved classes online from March 23rd,2020. The university asked its 36,000 graduate and undergraduate students not to return to campus after the spring recess and to continue studying remotely until further notice. The decision to transition to remote instruction aims to reduce the number of interactions on campus and control the spread of the virus. The university has also closed its museums to the public.

"The goal of these changes is to minimize the need to gather in large groups," Harvard president Lawrence Bacow said in a statement posted on the university's website.

Harvard will be open for Fall 2020

After pausing classes in spring because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Harvard will reopen this fall 2020. Harvard Provost Alan Garber plans to bring students on-campus, he recognizes that Coronavirus may bring a “scenario in which much or all learning will be conducted remotely.”

As the university is deciding to what extent the coronavirus pandemic will prevent normal functioning, Garber's message ruled out delaying the upcoming semester entirely.

Garber wrote “A range of scenarios has been and will continue to be evaluated for the fall, from fully restored on-campus activities – a “normal” return to campus – to delaying the opening of the University until next spring semester,”.

He added, “Yet for the US, the most important decision is a clear one: Harvard will be open for fall 2020,”.

“If our community has not developed sufficient levels of immunity through recovery from the disease or vaccination, and if safe and effective antiviral therapy is not available, we will likely need adequate supplies of personal protective equipment, reliable and convenient viral testing, robust contact tracing procedures, and facilities for quarantine and isolation,” Garber wrote in an open letter. “We must do our part to assure the health and safety of everyone within and beyond the Harvard community, particularly those at elevated risk.”

Harvard is at the forefront of fighting the COVID-19

Harvard and MIT have also donated $500,000 for the creation of a temporary emergency shelter at the War Memorial Recreation Center, Fielf House, and garage in Cambridge. Apart from this, the graduating Harvard Medical School (HMS) students will have the option to receive their medical diplomas early, thus, if they want they can help in hospitals. Fourth-year medical students who have completed their degree requirements and training are being given the option by the university to receive their diplomas before the scheduled date in May. In addition to this, Harvard scientists have joined the race to find the treatment for COVID-19.

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Harvard is also helping to track the virus

Students and faculty from Harvard are helping to boost the volunteer public health workforce. In late February, the US started its own clinical trial of remdesivir, one of the drugs that are an experimental antiviral. Gilead Sciences, the biopharmaceutical that developed the drug have also started its own study. Work on both the federal National Institutes of Health study and the Gilead trial is being executed at two of Harvard’s affiliated hospitals. Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard have also converted a clinical processing lab into a large-scale testing facility for COVID-19.

Also, the Harvard Graduate School of Design (GSD) has begun the production of personal protective equipment (PPE) kits. With an arrangement of more than 100 3D printers at the School’s Gund Hall, state-of-the-art fabrication technologies, and professional guidance from across Harvard University, the GSD is developing PPE for front-line medical personnel at area hospitals. The School expects to produce components for about 1,000 face shields by the end of this week.

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