As the trees begin to bloom and the air turns warmer, spring at the academy is on many of our minds. It’s a favorite time of year for both students and faculty; a time that we share outside, studying together at picnic tables and eating cookout lunches. There are many things to miss right now, but of course, being at home saves us from some of the less-desirable moments as well.

My coronavirus panic started as China’s Lunar New Year approached in late January. The week-long holiday was, traditionally, the world’s largest travel season, with migrants returning to their hometowns. But celebrations were halted, metropolises locked down. The city of Wuhan, alongside other epicenters of the outbreak, were under quarantine—authorities shut down public transportations and closed...