UWM Foundation employee tested for coronavirus, spring break extended

MILWAUKEE -- At the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee on Tuesday, March 10, officials announced an employee of the UWM Foundation was tested Monday, March 9 for coronavirus at a Milwaukee-area hospital. The results of that test would not be available until the end of the week, officials said.

A news release from UWM said the employee became ill after contact with someone who went to a country with the Level 3 warning. The employee works in a UWM Foundation office connected to the Cambridge Commons residence hall.

"We've notified individuals in that area," said Chanellor Mark Mone. "They're not working in that area of campus. We're going through a disinfecting routine."

Chancellor Mone noted an ongoing public health campaign on campus to raise awareness about good hygiene practices and steps students should take to protect their health. He said additional information would be provided to students at Cambridge Commons as needed.

Spring break extended

Additionally, UWM officials announced the extension of spring break -- March 15 to March 29. After spring break, officials said "UWM is preparing to move the majority of its classes for all three campuses online." UWM officials stressed all classes would be held as scheduled until March 15.

"We're going to extend that to the 29th of March so that UWM can prepare to move the majority of its classes online following that extended spring break," said Chancellor Mone.

Cambridge Commons

UWM travel guidelines

UWM officials in the release offered these updated travel guidelines:

Students, university leaders respond

"I think they did a really good job acting as soon as they found something out, and taking a lot of steps to ensure this doesn't spread here in Milwaukee, and at the university," said Eli Licht, UWM student. "Pretty great we got an extra week of spring break, but the transition to online classes may be a little difficult."

"If you go online, it's actually a smart move because you minimize social mobility of students," said Johannes Britz, UWM provost.

"I think it'll be OK," said Janey Weber, UWM student. "You just have to stay safe and everything."

CLICK HERE for more via UWM's coronavirus website.

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee