MARQUETTE, MI— Northern Michigan University is delaying the start of classes due to a surge in the number of coronavirus cases in the region.
Northern’s COVID team met Sunday to evaluate school protocols. Interim President Kerri Schuiling says given that the Omicron variant is so highly infectious and cloth masks provide little to no prevention, the team determined employees and students need to be provided with the types of masks that provide better protection.
Starting Monday all campus employees are required to wear an N95, KN95 or KF94 mask. They have already been made available to employees.
Officials have ordered 12,000 masks for students, which are expected to arrive Wednesday and won’t be widely available until later this week. As a result, NMU on-campus classes are canceled Monday and Tuesday and will be held remotely the rest of the week. Students in residence halls are being asked to double-mask until they receive their KN95 masks.
Northern will remain open for business operations today and tomorrow.
