NEW ULM — In response to COVID-19 concerns, Martin Luther College will extend its spring break until Sunday, March 22.

In a statement released Thursday, MLC said the campus and Early Childhood Learning Center (ECLC) are safe, and there is no reason to believe anyone in the campus family is infected with the coronavirus. But the school is monitoring growing concerns and will extend spring break until next week.

Starting March 23, all classes will be conducted via distance learning methods, intending to resume classroom instruction on April 14 after Easter break.

Re-evaluation will continue, and any further decisions will be made by April 8.

The MLC campus will only be open to faculty, staff, international students, local student teachers, and other students with extenuating circumstances. All MLC-sponsored and hosted events on and off our campus will be canceled until April 13. This includes athletic events, music events, admissions visits, etc. Please see the website for details or email event coordinator Michelle Gartner for more information at gartneml@mlc-wels.edu.

For more information on the coronavirus, contact the Center for Disease Control’s website at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/, or the Minnesota Department of Health at www.health.state.mn.us/#coronavirus.