QUT moves to online lectures amid escalating coronavirus concerns

Queensland's University of Technology (QUT) has told students it will be move to an online class model starting next Monday.

In an email sent Wednesday afternoon the university said online classes will start from March 23rd and continue for the rest of the semester.

The university has also extended its mid-semester break and census date.

"We will extend the census date for the Semester 1 teaching period to 27 March," it said.

"We will also extend the mid-semester break by one week. Therefore, learning and teaching activities will cease on Friday, 3 April and resume on Monday, 20 April."

In a statement to 9News the university said it was planning to livestream lectures from all 50 of its lecture theatres across its two campuses where possible.

Libraries, computer labs and student support areas will remain open and operate as usual.

Meanwhile tutorials, workshops, laboratories, studios and other small-team based activities will be paused just for one week from Monday.

The University of Queensland (UQ) suspended all coursework teaching for one week from Monday March 16th to "accelerate" efforts to manage the coronavirus pandemic, after another student tested positive.

At this stage UQ students will resume normal classes on Monday March 23rd.

It is understood the university will make an announcement later this week about whether it will make a complete transition to online lectures.

Griffith University has also announced it will cancel lectures with more than 300 attendees and the University of Southern Queensland has postponed its semester one graduation ceremonies.

All Saints Anglican High School on the Gold Coast has decided to close from Friday.

The state's teachers union says one in four students is now being kept home from school.