Law Schools

Washington Law Student Placed In Self-Quarantine Over Suspected Case Of Coronavirus, School Moves All Classes Online

The law school in question is located in a COVID-19 outbreak hotspot.

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After a New York lawyer tested positive for coronavirus, concerns over the illness caused one New York law school to close its doors and a law student at another New York law school to go into self-quarantine. Now, the mysterious virus is touching the legal community on the other side of the country in Seattle, Washington, an outbreak hotspot where there have been 70 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 10 deaths.

According to The Daily, a first-year student with a suspected coronavirus diagnosis at the University of Washington School of Law has been placed in self-quarantine by a doctor. Here are some additional details:

“The student’s healthcare team reports that according to CDC guidelines, the student currently does not warrant testing,” the email [from School of Law dean Mario Barnes] reads. “As a result, we do not know with certainty whether the student has coronavirus.”

To be tested, a patient’s physician or health care provider has to order it based on guidance from local and federal health officials, according to UW Medicine. People cannot refer themselves for testing. Keith Jerome, who leads the virology division of the UW School of Medicine department of laboratory medicine, noted that people with more mild symptoms should not get tested so as to not strain the limited resources locally.

The student is receiving care and will stay out of public for the next 14 days.

Dean Barnes told students that all public areas and restrooms at the law school are being disinfected and undergoing expanded cleanings, and the university has made a recommendation that if someone is feeling sick, they should stay home, and call their doctor before showing up unannounced.

“We will make every effort to accommodate students who choose to self-isolate,” Dean Barnes wrote in his email. “Students will be treated as if they are experiencing a health issue that keeps them from attending class; no doctor’s note is needed.”

UPDATE (2:15 p.m.): UW Law just announced that it will be moving all classes online for the rest of the academic quarter, beginning on March 9. Finals will also be administered in an online format. Here’s an excerpt of an email from Dean Barnes:

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Many of you have been emailing with questions and concerns. We will respond to individual messages as soon as possible. In the meantime, we would like to share a few law-school specific updates.

In alignment with the University, UW Law also will move classes completely online starting Monday, March 9. Some classes are still being held in person today, but students may continue to self-isolate and instructors are encouraged, again, to hold classes remotely. Your instructors will provide more specific information.

Final exams will be offered remotely. The faculty and administration are working to finalize the way in which exams are administered. We will provide more detailed information early next week.

Our goal is to make sure students’ academic work is recognized fairly and that any disruption does not disadvantage your future academic progress. We plan to resume normal class operations when spring quarter begins March 30, pending public health guidance.

Thank you for your patience and partnership during this difficult time.

We will be closely following these latest developments. What is your law school or law firm doing to protect students and employees from coronavirus? Please text us (646-820-8477) or email us (subject line: “Coronavirus Response”). Stay safe, everyone.

Law student directed to self-isolate on novel coronavirus suspicions [The Daily]

Earlier: Prior ATL coverage of the coronavirus outbreak

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Staci ZaretskyStaci Zaretsky is a senior editor at Above the Law, where she’s worked since 2011. She’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to email her with any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on Twitter or connect with her on LinkedIn.

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