All lectures will be delivered online for the rest of the semester but tutorials, seminars and laboratory practicals will all continue to be given in college, Trinity has announced in an email to staff and students.
In tutorials, seminars and laboratory practicals social distancing protocols will be encouraged. “This will allow Trinity to maintain continuity of teaching and learning while minimising the need to bring together students in large groups,” the statement circulated to staff and students read. “This will slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus, but further measures may be necessary and these arrangements will be kept under continuous review.”
Trinity have also taken the decision to close tourist attractions in College, including the Book of Kells exhibition and Old Library, the Science Gallery and the Douglas Hyde Gallery. All will be closed from 1pm today.
The statement, signed by Provost Patrick Prendergast and Vice Provost and Chief Academic Officer Jürgen Barkhoff, said: “Both of these measures are being taken in the interests of the health and well-being of our students and staff and to decrease any potential impacts on the larger community. The decisions are based on the concept of social distancing which has been recommended by many experts. Our goal is to decrease the number of instances that lead to students, staff, and visitors coming together in large groups in close proximity with each other.”
“We recognise that teaching is one of Trinity’s great strengths and that the decision regarding academic activities will be inconvenient to many of our students and staff but we must recognise that COVID-19 presents a very serious threat to the health and well-being of all in the Trinity community. Further actions may be needed.”
The first case of coronavirus within Trinity was confirmed last Thursday. The fourth floor and lifts of the Trinity Biomedical Science Institute (TBSI) were closed as a precaution. Hand sanitisers have been provided across campus and in off-campus locations in a bid to prevent a possible spread of infection. College has placed posters across campus with information on the virus, and has established a dedicated web page to provide updates and advice.
Trinity set up an expert working group to monitor the ongoing situation with the coronavirus in January.
