A leading academic at the Australian National University (ANU) has declared that the closure of universities to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission did not make sense due to the facilities’ “critical role” in fighting the crisis.
Vice Chancellor of the ANU, Professor Brian Schmidt – a Nobel prizewinner in physics – said a system-wide response was needed to chart a path through the pandemic.
“The system-wide response needs to be led by Government, informed by the best expertise this nation and the world has,” Professor Schmidt said.
“We must do this because the COVID-19 pandemic is with us for the next six to 18 months and our response must take this into account.”
He said people needed to give up their individualism and avoid the “everyone-for-themselves” mentality that had led to panic buying and non-compliance with public health decisions.
He said tough public health calls needed to be made and based on the best evidence available.
“Universities are central to this,” Professor Schmidt said.
“Society is relying on its universities and medical research institutes to develop vaccines, tests and public health measures to combat COVID-19,” he said.
“Our researchers are also helping design the economic and social responses … and provide many of the health workers and facilities that are more critical than ever.”
He said speculation around the closure of universities due to their potential for disease transmission on campus was concerning.
“Clearly, fully closing universities does not make sense given our critical role in fighting the epidemic,” Professor Schmidt said.
“That is why universities are en masse making decisions to deliver our classes online, so we can remain operational while limiting the risk of transmitting the virus,” he said.
“We have also led the way on social-distancing measures and will do whatever it takes in the future so that our campuses are safe for the critical activities that must continue.”
An ANU staff member testing positive for COVID-19 this week was the third positive test at the facility following two student cases last week.
Professor Schmidt said contact tracing for the latest case had been completed, with a small number of people now in isolation.
