Jacqui Lambie proposed closing Tasmania’s borders but it is too late

U Tas reports a COVID-19 case on campus. A woman with the virus arrived from South America on Sunday and was on the Sandy Bay campus Monday. But cheer-up, management says she had no close contact with anybody and, “there is very low risk.”

But management has a plan for when there is “local transmission,” on-line course delivery “to the greatest extent possible,” and working from home, “where possible.”

Same at La Trobe U

A student now known to have COVID-19 “has attended classes” in the last week.  The university says all staff and students in contact are advised to self-isolate and on official advice, the university stays open.

And after the Unis Aus conference

CMM thought the only risk of the Universities Australia conference was being bored to snores but it turns out a delegate picked-up COVID-19 there. “Health authorities have been working to identify the source of the infection but have not yet been able to do so. It is possible someone at the conference may have been the source of the infection,” Chief Executive Catriona Jackson said yesterday.

But Flinders U is preparing for the not so good

DVC Students Clare Pollock tells staff approved international travel has to be approved again and nothing new that isn’t essential will be allowed. And while domestic trips are not restricted, “it would be prudent to avoid booking travel too far in advance.”

So is ANU

The university is considering following Macquarie U, which is committed to paying casuals if there is a campus shut-down, (CMM March 10).

“ANU is considering how to respond to a range of scenarios, and the impact these have on our people, a “spokesperson told CMM last night.

This will include how we can best support our casual staff during self-isolation or campus shutdown.”

It’s on management’s agenda for next week.