UT Austin cancels classes after two presumptive positive COVID-19 cases confirmed in Austin-Travis County

AUSTIN, Texas - The University of Texas at Austin says it will be canceling classes Friday, March 13 and that essential personnel will be the only ones at work.

School officials had earlier said that the university would remain open but "given the rapidly evolving situation" they felt "it is in the best interest of the campus community to close."

The university had already announced that it's extending spring break and that it would be taking steps to switch classes to be online temporarily.

UT Austin extends spring break, plans to switch classes to online

Classes will resume on campus on Monday, March 30, and students should plan on returning prior to that date, according to the University of Texas at Austin.

The news from UT comes after officials confirmed the first two presumptive positive cases of COVID-19 reported in Austin-Travis County.

Officials say one case is a man in his 60s and the other is a female in her 30s.