ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-NINE YEARS OF EDITORIAL FREEDOM
Friday, March 13, 2020
Ann Arbor, Michigan
michigandaily.com
10 new cases of COVID-19 found in state, brings total to 12 in MI
Michigan confirms additional diagnoses with others pending BARBARA COLLINS & REMY FARKAS Daily News Editor & Daily Staff Reporter
MILES MACKLIN/Daily Amid the global COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 NCAA Tournament has been cancelled, according to a release from the NCAA.
NCAA orders cancellation of all competitions due to coronavirus
Athletic events called off to limit spread of global pandemic DANIEL DASH
Daily Sports Writer
INDIANAPOLIS — Unlike previous years, this March has been defined by the madness taking place off the hardwood. Amid the global COVID19 pandemic, the 2020 NCAA Tournament has been cancelled, according to a release from the
NCAA. All spring and winter competitions are cancelled as well. “This decision is based on the evolving COVID-19 public health threat, our ability to ensure the events do not contribute to spread of the pandemic, and the impracticality of hosting such events at any time during this academic year given ongoing
decisions by other entities,” NCAA President Mark Emmert said in a statement. The decision comes mere hours after each major Division I conference pulled the plug on their conference tournaments. The Ivy League — which cancelled its conference tournament on Wednesday — was the first domino to fall, and the rest of the country
followed suit shortly after. Less than 20 minutes before the beginning of Thursday’s fourgame Big Ten Tournament slate, conference commissioner Kevin Warren called off the tournament. Michigan and Rutgers were finishing pregame warmups when he made the final call. See NCAA, Page 3
Ten additional cases of the COVID-19 virus have been diagnosed in Michigan, officials announced late Thursday evening, leading to adjustments in state operations. This brings the total number of patients diagnosed with the COVID-19 virus to 12 in Michigan. According to Local 4 News, the new cases include: A Washtenaw County woman and a Washtenaw County man, one who has domestic travel history and one who has previously traveled internationally Two Kent County women and one Kent County man with histories of international travel A St. Clair County man with who has previously traveled domestically Two Oakland County men, one with domestic travel
history and one with no travel history A Montcalm County man with international travel history An Ingham County woman who has previously traveled on a cruise As of 9:30 p.m. Thursday, the state of Michigan’s coronavirus website confirms there are 26 COVID-19 tests pending and 172 people are being monitored after traveling to areas affected by the virus. Another 554 people have been referred for assessment or monitoring. Lynn Sutfin, public information officer for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, told Bridge Magazine the cases were not immediately known to be connected and were not in the same county, one of which was confirmed to be in St. Clair County. She said as of last week the state had the capacity to test 300 people but said they can now test 1,300 people. See COVID-19, Page 3
Letter From the Editor: Here’s ‘U’ recalls Whitmer students how to keep up with The Daily closes all ADMINISTRATION
abroad to America
GOVERNMENT
‘We’re still here . . . We’re bringing you the news every hour, every day of the week.’
International programs mandate participants to return; all summer, spring courses terminated
Governor holds press conference to declare shutdown of all K-12 educational buildings ALEX HARRING & BARBARA COLLINS
LEAH GRAHAM & EMMA STEIN
Daily News Editors
Managing News Editor & Daily News Editor
The University of Michigan is suspending all study abroad programs effective immediately and asking all students to return to the United States by March 20, according to an email from Rachel Reuter, Center for Global and Intercultural Study health and safety adviser, sent Thursday. University President Mark Schlissel released a statement Wednesday alerting the community about changes to University classes, events and protocol. Following that, in a series of emails sent over a period spanning less than 24 hours, CGIS students were informed that their programs were being canceled, they would need to self-quarantine for two weeks if they had been in any of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Level 3 countries and they would need to come home by next Friday. See ABROAD, Page 3
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schools in Michigan
DESIGN BY MOLLY WU
ELIZABETH LAWRENCE Editor-in-Chief
With concerns and precautions growing due to COVID-19, the world has had to adapt. Yesterday, the University of Michigan moved all classes online, cancelled major events, pulled all current study abroad programs, as well as those scheduled for spring and summer, and cancelled sports. While campus remains open, many students are heading home to be with family and take classes remotely. And so The Michigan Daily has to adapt, too. Friday’s
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paper will be The Daily’s last edition in print for the 2020 winter term. Because the vast majority of our print papers are distributed to classroom buildings, it doesn’t make sense financially or environmentally to print a daily paper that won’t get picked up. But we’re still here. And we’re bringing you the news every hour, every day of the week. For the rest of the semester, our staff will continue working tirelessly to keep the University of Michigan and Ann Arbor communities informed. Here are the various ways to keep
up with The Daily for the next six weeks. Check our website, michigandaily.com, for our latest print and multimedia content. Follow us on our Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. Our handle on all platforms is @michigandaily. Subscribe to our YouTube channel at The Michigan Daily. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, The Daily Digest, to get each week’s most pressing stories straight in your inbox. Additionally, if you find yourself missing our print edition, we will continue putting together a PDF version
For more stories and coverage, visit
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INDEX
of our paper each Monday through Friday to upload on our issuu. And we’re working to compile a daily roundup of stories in a concise, userfriendly way to push out each day on social media so you can click through our stories on your phone. It is our responsibility to bring you the content you need every day of the week, and nothing will change that. Every one of our staff members is dedicated to our mission. The Michigan Daily is here to listen, write and report as always.
Vol. CXXIX, No. 83 ©2020 The Michigan Daily
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer ordered a shutdown of all K-12 schools in Michigan until April 5 in an attempt to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus. In a press release Thursday evening, Whitmer said the closure of all public, private and boarding schools is a necessary step to protect Michigan’s children, families and overall public health. “I am working with partners across state government to ensure educators, parents, and students have the support they need during this time, and to ensure our children who rely on school for meals have access to food,” Whitmer said in the press release. “I know this will be a tough time, but we’re doing this to keep the most people we can safe. I urge everyone to make smart choices during this time and to do everything they can to protect themselves and their families.” Hours before Whitmer’s announcement, Ann Arbor Public Schools closed its schools through April 6 in response to COVID19, according to a letter from Superintendent Jeanice Swift published Thursday afternoon.
NEWS .........................1 OPINION.....................4 CLASSIFIEDS.............6
See CITY, Page 3
SUDOKU................6 ARTS...............5 SPORTS.............7