UPDATED: Providence Elected Officials Want PC to Go Virtual for Fall After 160+ Coronavirus Cases

UPDATED: Providence Elected Officials Want PC to Go Virtual for Fall After 160+ Coronavirus Cases

Elected officials in Providence are calling on Providence College (PC) to go virtual for the fall semester, after 140 COVID-19 cases have been tied to the school.

State Representative Marcia Ranglin-Vassell, State Senator Sam Bell, and State Representative-Elect David Morales in a letter to the college cited the impact coronavirus has had on the surrounding community. 

In their letter, the elected officials referenced more than 140 cases -- as of Saturday, the number was at 154, with seven additional on Sunday. There has been no data released yet for Monday. 

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PC responded on Tuesday afternoon.

"We understand and appreciate the concerns of Sen. Bell, Rep. Ranglin-Vassel and Rep-elect Morales. The College is currently holding classes remotely through Sat. 9/26. We will evaluate the need to remain in remote mode later this week and make a decision prior to weekend," said the college in a statement. 

Letter to PC

The elected officials sent the following on Tuesday:

"Dear President Rev. Kenneth R. Sicard:

We write to you urging that Providence College transition to virtual learning for the rest of the 2020 Fall Semester. As of September 22nd 2020, more than 140 positive cases of COVID have come from PC students.

This is incredibly concerning for the entire PC community and it is also affecting our neighboring communities of Elmhurst, Mt. Pleasant, Charles, and Wanskuck. These are diverse communities with minority-owned small businesses, working families, senior citizens, children, and young adults. Unfortunately, their health is now at risk as PC students naturally shop, socialize, and engage with our communities. Even before the return of PC students, our neighborhoods in the 02904 and 02908 zip-codes were already some of the most impacted by COVID cases and deaths across the state. Please remember, there is a reason our neighbors were initially concerned with PC’s decision to resume in-person learning.

While we understand that the university is doing everything it can to contain these cases and the spread of COVID through strict shelter-in-place policies and contracting private security, it is worrying to think that students may return to in-person learning. Instead, the safety of our neighbors, students, and staff should be prioritized.

We have already seen enough this past week and we are wishing everyone affected a quick recovery. Therefore, it is time to take action by transitioning to virtual learning immediately as resuming in-person learning will not be sustainable for the health of PC students, staff, and our neighbors. Of course, we would all want PC students to receive the full “college experience” but we are living through a global pandemic and this is the unfortunate reality. As we all know, one COVID-related death alone is already one too many.

We respectfully ask that Providence College transition to virtual learning for the rest of the 2020 Fall Semester.

Sincerely,

Representative-Elect David Morales, District 7 
Senator Sam Bell, District 5
Representative Marcia Ranglin-Vassell, District 5

Updated Tuesday 1:44 PM