Trinity College Dublin has announced that all lectures will be delivered online for the rest of the semester in response to the spread of coronavirus, while Greece has become the latest country to close all its universities to contain the spread of Covid-19.

Trinity said that in-person lectures , but that tutorials, seminars and laboratory practicals ¡°will all continue to be given in the usual fashion while using social distancing protocols¡±.

¡°This will allow Trinity to maintain continuity of teaching and learning while minimising the need to bring together students in large groups,¡± the university said.

¡°This will slow the spread of the Covid-19 virus, but further measures may be necessary and these arrangements will be kept under continuous review.¡±

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Meanwhile, Greek health minister Vassilis Kikilias said that all higher education institutions in the country would shut for 14 days from 11 March, reported.

¡°Now is the time for all Greeks to show personal responsibility,¡± said Mr Kikilias, who also announced the closure of schools and nurseries for the same period of time, according to the news agency.

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Greece¡¯s decision follows Italy¡¯s move to close all its universities for 10 days until 15 March. Greece has reported 89 confirmed cases of Covid-19 to date but no fatalities.

A growing list of several dozen US universities have suspended on-campus teaching for at least a few weeks in response to the spread of the virus, affecting more than 500,000 students.

chris.havergal@timeshighereducation.com