University of Michigan to cancel classes Thursday and Friday, online starting Monday

The University of Michigan will cancel all classes on Thursday and Friday before starting online instruction on Monday. The announcement covers the Ann Arbor, Dearborn and Flint campuses.

In addition, all events with more than 100 people scheduled are cancelled. Michigan Athletics is limiting spectators at all campus athletic events to family members and media.

"For students who choose to remain on campus, Michigan Dining and U-M Housing will remain operational. We are working to make changes to minimize risk for students in our dining halls," the school said. 

Michigan's other major public universities are making similar moves, including Michigan State University which cancelled all online classes starting at noon Wednesday.

More:Michigan State to cancel all in-person classes, shift to online amid coronavirus scare

More:Michigan universities moving to online classes amid coronavirus

Universities across the nation have cancelled in-person classes. Those include Indiana University, Purdue University and Ohio State University.

The move is impacting college sports as well.

The Mid-American Conference, which includes several Michigan schools, are playing  their basketball tournament games in spectator-free gyms this week.

The Ivy League cancelled its basketball tournament and said it would limit spectators in other sports.

The NCAA basketball tournament is still on for now.

“As we have stated, we will make decisions on our events based on the best, most current public health guidance available,” NCAA President Mark Emmert said in a statement. “Neither the NCAA COVID-19 advisory panel, made up of leading public health and infectious disease experts in America, nor the CDC or local health officials have advised against holding sporting events. In the event circumstances change, we will make decisions accordingly.”

Contact David Jesse: 313-222-8851 or djesse@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter: @reporterdavidj