Manfredi has overseen the response to the 2020 coronavirus outbreak in Italy in relation to Italian universities.[2][3] Manfredi announced that online lessons would be delivered to students in key areas most affected by the outbreak starting from 2 March 2020.[4] On 14 March 2020, Manfredi's Deputy Minister of University and Research, Anna Ascani was found positive to Coronavirus on 14 March 2020.[5]