Sloan classes held online in light of ‘concerning’ increase in positive COVID-19 tests
Sloan students required to follow testing regimen
A “concerning” increase in positive COVID-19 tests was seen among MIT Sloan graduate students last week, Vice President and Dean for Student Life Suzy Nelson and MIT Medical Director Cecilia Stuopis ’90 wrote in an email to the MIT community Mar. 25.
In response to the increase in positive tests, the Sloan School of Management’s classes were held online on Thursday and Friday, and all Sloan facilities were temporarily closed. Campus access for Sloan students was limited to COVID-19 testing, MIT Medical, and, for students living on campus, residence halls and dining facilities.
Sloan students were required to test for COVID-19 on Thursday and follow a specific testing regimen the week of Mar. 29.
Last week saw the highest positive rate of COVID-19 tests at MIT since the week of Jan. 17, at 0.33%, according to MIT’s COVID Dashboard. Of 76 positive tests, 55 were graduate students.
Nelson and Stuopis wrote that additional steps “may be taken depending on adherence to these [protective measures] and the outcome of next week’s testing.”
They also wrote that the “overall risk” to other students on campus “remains low” as long as students comply with protective measures and guidelines such as wearing face coverings, physical distancing, regular testing and attestation.
Earlier in March, noncompliance with MIT’s COVID-19 policies resulted in pod programs being temporarily paused in three undergraduate dorms.
During September 2020, Sloan instruction was also moved online for several days following reports of large gatherings of students.