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Coronavirus and college: Ohio State cancels spring break, Carnegie Mellon delays spring start

Schools across the U.S. are making adjustments to best cope with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Policies and procedures have been put in place at academic institutions to slow the spread of the virus and to protect staff and students.

In an attempt to reduce risk, Ohio State University announced Friday it will cancel spring break during the 2021 semester. Instead, the university plans to allow students a two-day break from classes, WHIO-TV reported.

“There will be no spring break. Instead, there will be two instructional breaks — on Tuesday, Feb. 9, and Wednesday, March 31 — where there will be no classes,” said Bruce McPheron, executive vice president for the university. “This approach will keep our community together throughout the semester and reduce travel-related exposures.”

The university will continue hosting virtual, in-person and hybrid learning lessons for the spring semester.

About 200 miles away at Carnegie Mellon University, school officials announced the spring semester will be delayed by more than two weeks to proactively combat the spread of COVID-19.

School officials said Thursday that the spring semester will start Feb. 1 instead of Jan. 11.

The delay is intended to reduce the amount of time the university’s campus will be open during flu season, given indications that flu season will overlap with the coronavirus pandemic, Pittsburgh-based WXPI-TV reported.

Carnegie Mellon will continue offering learning options similar to those at OSU.