McMaster University and Mohawk College have cancelled in-person classes and exams as of the end of day Friday as a result of the COVID-19 crisis.

"These are unsettling times," said university president David Farrar in a letter posted on the McMaster website Friday morning.

"The spread of COVID-19 around the world and its arrival in our own region has brought McMaster and all other organizations to unchartered territory."

Mohawk is closing all campuses including student residences as of Saturday with only designated employees having access.

"Students in residence are encouraged to return to home, if possible," said a letter from Ron McKerlie, president of Mohawk. "More details will be communicated to students in residence directly."

McMaster is remaining open including libraries, food services, research enterprises and student residences.

"This is a stressful time for everyone," states the university's letter. "And these are difficult decisions."

Undergraduate and graduate students at McMaster are expected to hear by March 18 how the remainder of their courses will be managed and grades assessed so they can complete their credits on time. Online classes is one potential option suggested in the letter.

"These solutions will vary from course to course," states the letter from Mac.

"Ensuring students finish their year, that those in their final year are able to graduate and reducing the stress students are under, must be of paramount importance."

At Mohawk, students will be given a completion plan by March 19 with online or alternative delivery beginning on March 23.

McMaster and Mohawk's decision comes one day after Education Minister Stephen Lecce issued an order to close elementary and high schools for two weeks following March break based on a recommendation from Dr. David Williams, Ontario's Chief Medical Officer of Health.

A number of other post-secondary schools in Ontario have cancelled in-person classes including the University of Toronto, Ontario Tech, Trent, York and Western universities.

The cancellations are an attempt to stop the growing spread of the coronavirus which had 74 confirmed cases in Ontario on Friday, up from 54 the day before.

There are three cases in Hamilton and Halton which have all been linked to international travel.

Hamilton and Halton's first case — a 32-year-old Juravinski Cancer Centre oncologist who lives in Burlington and travelled to Hawaii — was announced Wednesday. On Thursday, health officials said two more area residents tested positive: a 52-year-old Hamilton man and an Oakville woman in her 40s. Both had recently travelled to the United States.

A ripple effect has been felt throughout the area with event cancellations and store shelves stripped bare of hand sanitizer, toilet paper, paper towel and canned goods.

The risk to the average Hamiltonian "remains low," Dr. Bart Harvey, the city's associate medical officer of health, said during a news conference Thursday.

But McMaster felt it was time to act beyond its Thursday decision to cancel discretionary events such as fundraisers, intramurals, performances and tournament.

"The university's focus is always clearly on our students, faculty and staff," stated the letter. "And while the university has taken many measures to prepare and keep our community informed as the pandemic has unfolded, it is now time to take a more significant decision to suspend classes at McMaster."

The city said Thursday it was cancelling all non-essential training sessions for its 8,000 employees as it scales up efforts to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus in Hamilton.

The city's emergency operations centre (EOC), which was activated at "Level 1" Wednesday in response to COVID-19, moved to "Level 2" protocols Friday.

The EOC is a collaboration of police, EMS, fire and public health staff to focus and organize resources during big emergencies, including flooding, ice storms and pandemics.

McMaster's website crashed within minutes of posting the president's letter around 10 a.m. on Friday.

"We don't underestimate the challenge it will be for instructors to find alternate ways to finish their course programs and for staff to develop and implement the changes that will be required," states the letter. "But I am confident that in these extraordinary times, extraordinary solutions will be found and the university will provide the support needed to help ensure that happens."

Mohawk's letter had a similar message, saying, "These decisions have been made in an effort to protect the health and safety of our Mohawk community and the general population. We know these decisions will cause some concern and disruption for people. We greatly appreciate your patience and understanding, as these are extraordinary circumstances."

jfrketich@thespec.com

905-526-3349 | @Jfrketich