Pima College closes temporarily over possible coronavirus exposure

Posted Mar 16, 2020

Dylan Smith
TucsonSentinel.com

Kynn Bartlett/Wikimedia

Pima Community College will be closed Tuesday because a member of the college community may have been exposed to someone who has been tested for COVID-19.

"Out of an abundance of caution," PCC will close all campuses and centers, and the District Office, starting Tuesday morning, said college spokeswoman Libby Howell.

Howell couldn't release specifics, but said a person associated with the college has likely been exposed to another individual who has been tested for the virus.

That patient has apparently not been diagnosed with the disease, nor ruled out as not carrying coronavirus.

"The college is working closely with the Pima County Health Department to assess the situation, and expects to have more information by the end of the day Tuesday," Howell said.

Pima is on spring break this week, which has been extended two days through Tuesday, March 24, so no classes will be affected by the complete shutdown this week.

PCC still plans to resume classes on Wednesday, March 25, with as many classes as possible moving to virtual instruction, using technology such as Google Hangouts, FaceTime, and teleconferencing.

The school announced earlier Monday that it was suspending face-to-face student and public services as a precaution due to the COVID-19 pandemic, through March 27.

"The college will then reassess if and when to resume normal operations," Howell said.

All three state universities — UA, ASU and NAU — have delayed classes and are moving to online courses because of COVID-19. UA has announced that students should not return to campus after spring break.