Yorkshire universities cancel exams and halt teaching due to fears of coronavirus spreading further

Measures include cancelling exams, ending term early and moving to online teaching.

The University of York confirmed to The Yorkshire Post they have cancelled all first-year examinations while all other examinations and assessments for the remainder of this academic year will move online.

Students and staff finished the spring term last Friday and will move to online teaching at the start of the summer term on April 14.

The University of Sheffield have suspended all face-to-face teaching and will now move to online teaching from today.

However the university - and all of it's facilities, including the library, will remain open.

A spokeswoman for The University of Sheffield said: “The health and wellbeing of our students and colleagues is our top priority. Given the current circumstances, the University had no alternative option but to temporarily suspend all face-to-face teaching.

Course leaders are communicating directly with students to let them know about online and remote study options.

“University buildings and facilities remain open. Some students have chosen to return to their homes and some staff are following our guidance around working remotely. We are offering support to all students and staff via regular communications."

The Sheffield institute has also created a dedicated incident team to meet daily to respond to the latest government guidance and developments.

The University of Leeds will put teaching online from March 18 and all of it's building will remain open and function normally next term.

A Leeds University spokesman said: "The health and wellbeing of our staff, students and visitors are our priority.

"We know that a great many people in the university community are understandably anxious about the current coronavirus outbreak, and we are taking further measures to address your concerns, to protect your health and wellbeing, and to ensure that learning can continue."

However the university - and all of it's buildings will remain open.

A Sheffield Hallam University spokeswoman said: “Our intention is to continue to deliver and maintain services."

The university has also created a dedicated help centre to handle enquiries from students and staff, which is operational from today.

Meanwhile York St John University have cancelled all face-to-face lessons today due to concerns about coronavirus.

The institute said they will be moving to online teaching "as soon as they can".

A spokesman for York St John University said: "We are constantly assessing advice from Government to ensure that we continue to do everything possible to protect the health of our whole university community.

"We have no reason to believe there are currently any cases of COVID-19 at York St John University.

"York St John University will be suspending face-to-face teaching and assessment in response to more stringent social distancing measures.

"We will be implementing remote learning provision and will confirm a date after consulting with our academic community to ensure minimum disruption to our students."