BELFAST — Due to ongoing public health concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the UMaine Hutchinson Center is closed through Sunday, April 5, according to a news release.

Earlier this week, the Hutchinson Center announced measures to reduce the number of people who pass through the venue on a daily basis, prevent the possible spread of COVID-19 and protect the health of the community.

Effective Monday, March 16, all events at the Hutchinson Center are postponed through Sunday, April 5. This measure includes conferences, events, meetings, professional development programs and live classes.

The Hutchinson Center is now closed to the public and is not offering public WiFi access.

Hutchinson Center staff will continue to offer support to students to successfully complete their coursework by connecting them to remote resources.

Students and faculty are asked to consider if they can access the resources they need (WiFi, course materials, computer, etc.) from home.

Those who can access these resources from home are asked to do so. Students and faculty seeking WiFi, computer access or other resources are asked to call the Hutchinson Center at 207.338.8000.

The Hutchinson Center’s resources are limited and available by appointment only. Given the unpredictability of the coronavirus situation, this is subject to change.

After moving all live classes to remote instruction, the University of Maine System has implemented several measures to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 disruptions. More information for students will be provided when these options are finalized.

All faculty, staff and visitors to the Hutchinson Center are urged to take basic preventative measures to avoid exposure to or infection from the virus causing COVID-19 including practicing social distancing (avoiding large crowds, staying home if sick and avoiding close contact to other people) and to be aware of risk factors.

The center will continue to monitor the situation and provide ongoing updates on its website as they become available. For questions, please contact the Hutchinson Center staff at 207.338.8000 or write hutchinsoncenter@maine.edu.