Michigan State University to reopen in phases after enhanced physical distancing directive
Updated Feb 13, 2021;
Posted Feb 13, 2021
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EAST LANSING, MI Michigan State University is lifting a two-week enhanced physical distancing directive and will use a phased approach to reopening that will be modified on a week-to-week basis.
MSU issued the directive on Jan. 31 as COVID-19 cases on campus continued to rise. It is being lifted at 11:59 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13.
Although the university is seeing a slight reduction in positivity rates in the on-campus community, it has not met a safe enough level to fully lift the directive, according to a letter to students from Vennie Gore, interim vice president for student affairs and services, and David Weismantel, a university physician.
1918 pandemic provides a cautionary tale of potential future pandemic
The 1918 influenza pandemic provides a cautionary tale for what the future may hold for COVID-19, says a Michigan State University researcher.
After a decade studying a flu virus that killed approximately 15,000 Michigan residents, Siddharth Chandra, a professor in MSU s James Madison College, saw his research come to life as he watched the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was so surreal, said Chandra, who has a courtesy appointment in epidemiology and biostatistics. All of a sudden, I was living my research.
Chandra s research is published in the
American Journal of Public Health with co-authors Julia Christensen, a graduate of James Madison College; Madhur Chandra, Senior Community Epidemiologist with the Ingham County Health Department and graduate of the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at MSU; and Nigel Paneth, professor of epidemiology and biostatistics and pediatrics at MSU.
Michigan’s decision to move educators near the front of the vaccine line is appearing to pay off: Nearly two-thirds of teachers have already received at least one dose of the COVID vaccine, or are on schedule to get it, according to an informal survey of over 22,000 Michigan teachers.
That’s good news for teachers worried about getting sick and for parents waiting impatiently for their children to return to classrooms. Some school districts say teacher vaccinations are paving the way for more face-to-face instruction ahead of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s plea for schools to offer in-person classes by March 1.