College of the Redwoods is suspending classes the week of March 23-27 to prepare for the “the eventuality that we will need to suspend face-to-face instruction,” according to a release.

The decision comes on the heels of Humboldt County Health Officer Teresa Frankovich's announcement of the decision today to declare a local health emergency in response to the COVID-19 virus and the World Health Organization officially designating it a pandemic.

There are currently no known cases of COVID-19 in Humboldt County, according to health officials.

“In light of these recent announcements, we are suspending classes the week following Spring Break (March 23-27th) to prepare for the eventuality that we will need to suspend face-to-face instruction,” the release states. “This includes the main Eureka campus, the Del Norte Campus, and the Klamath-Trinity instructional site. Instruction at Pelican Bay State Prison will continue with regularly scheduled classes.”

Residence halls will remain open and classes are expected to resume March 30.

Read the CR release below:

Today, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that the COVID-19 virus outbreak is now officially a global pandemic. Additionally, the Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services declared a local health emergency throughout the county.

In light of these recent announcements, we are suspending classes the week following Spring Break (March 23-27th) to prepare for the eventuality that we will need to suspend face-to-face instruction.

This includes the main Eureka campus, the Del Norte Campus, and the Klamath-Trinity instructional site. Instruction at Pelican Bay State Prison will continue with regularly scheduled classes.

Faculty and staff will use this time to prepare to deliver instruction and student support services remotely in the event that face-to-face instruction is suspended.

At this time, we expect the regular class schedule to resume on March 30th, 2020.

The residence halls will remain open for those students who live on campus.