Pembroke and Queens’ cancel bops due to COVID-19 concerns

Pembroke College and Queens’ College have decided to postpone upcoming bops amid coronavirus fears.

The Dean of Queen’s College, Prof. Martin Dixon and Senior Tutor, Dr. James Kelly, sent an email to students earlier today (Thursday 12 March), informing them that the QEnts bop and MCR party will not go ahead tomorrow. It says, “this is in response to the current health situation and the rapidly changing situation” and “we want to be proactive rather than reactive.”

Outlining the reasons for the decision, it also states: “It is possible that undiscovered cases of infection are circulating in Cambridge. In case they are, we want to minimise the chances of passing on infection.”

At Pembroke College, The Graduate Parlour (their graduate students’ union) President, Verner Viisainen, sent an email to students, announcing that they are postponing tonight’s Gatsby themed bop to a later date. It says, “We felt that it is important to take this preventative action as a precaution to limit chances of transmission but also that given the current uncertain situation that holding the event at another time would lead to a much more successful event.”

Tomorrow, the Girton Spring Ball is due to go ahead, but visitors displaying “flu-like symptoms” will not be allowed to attend.

Earlier today, Cambridge University medical students were informed that they will not sit their two Final MB Part III clinical examinations (SCEE and OSCE) due to the worsening Covid-19 situation.

As of 9am this morning, 590 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in the UK, and 29,764 tested. 8 patients who tested positive for COVID-19 have died.

Cover photo credit: Steff