Trinity News and the University Times have both taken the decision to postpone the publication of their next print editions in light of Trinity’s closure due to the coronavirus.
The editors of both publications, which were set to send issues to the printer on Sunday, have expressed regret that their papers’ would not be releasing print editions next week, but said that the decision was necessary given the closure of Trinity’s campus.
The papers plan to continue online coverage for the duration of the campus closure.
Trinity News Editor Aisling Grace said that the paper “will continue to provide coverage of college affairs and be a source of information for students”, but that given the closure of campus she said that the paper’s senior staff “have decided that the most appropriate way to achieve this goal is to prioritise online content and delay print for the immediate future”.
She added: “We have made this decision with a heavy heart and although we take great pride in our print edition, we must adapt to circumstances that best serve our readership.”
Speaking to Trinity News, University Times Editor Donal McNamee said that he is “beyond gutted that we’re not able to come out next week” but that “given all that’s happened this week, it felt like the only decision to make”.
He added that the University Times is currently intending to produce a print edition for March 31, “subject to College re-opening” and that “in the meantime students and staff can continue to get updates on all of Trinity’s goings-on on our website”.
Access to Trinity’s campus is currently permitted to limited groups following the government’s decision to close schools, universities, and cultural institutions from 6pm on Thursday until March 29.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar announced the measures in response to the coronavirus in a statement to the media in Washington DC yesterday .
Trinity’s campus is closed to undergraduate students with the exception of those who live on-campus. Residents are to be required to show their identity cards in order to gain access.
Access for staff is to continue, while postgraduate students who require access to the campus in order to engage in “critical research projects” are to be admitted if they show they have received permission through email from their supervisors.
In an email circulated to staff and students shortly after 5pm yesterday, Provost Patrick Prendergast confirmed that while the government’s decision is in effect until March 29, it “would be wise to allow for the possibility of a longer closure”.
The first case of coronavirus within Trinity was confirmed on March 5 and has since recovered. The second case, a Health Sciences student, was confirmed on Wednesday night.
So far, there have been 70 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the Republic of Ireland, with a further 20 confirmed cases in Northern Ireland. On Wednesday, the first death due to the coronavirus in Ireland was announced.
