Both of Butler County's colleges advanced precautionary measures Monday to address the coronavirus outbreak.

Around 1:30 p.m. Monday, Slippery Rock University officials announced the school will extend spring break by two weeks while preparing to move instruction online for the foreseeable future due to concerns over Novel Coronavirus 2019, also known as COVID-19.

“Like everyone else, (SRU) administration has been closely monitoring the continued spread of COVID-19 around the world,” said William Behre, SRU president. “University health and student affairs officials have been in continual contact with Butler County health and emergency management officials and have been keeping abreast of the latest information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization and other state and federal agencies."

Butler County Community College sent a late-notice alert Monday before evacuating and shutting down its campus after learning the spouse of one BC3's employees became ill following a trip to a country where there were confirmed cases of coronavirus.

The closure includes the cancellation of all classes and events through at least Sunday.

“I cannot underscore this enough,” said BC3 President Nick Neupauer. “There are absolutely no reported or confirmed cases of coronavirus on BC3's main campus or our additional locations.”

Read more in Thursday's Butler Eagle.