KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The University of Kansas already had restricted all travel to China on the recommendation of the U.S. Department of State and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
That ban now includes student travel to China this spring.
School policy forbids travel to any countries subject to a Level 4 State Department Travel Advisory, which was issued Feb. 2 for China.
KU also has canceled the 2020 Internship in Shanghai program this summer, redirecting students to other study-abroad opportunities.
But China isn’t the only hotbed or area of concern for students in study-abroad programs.
With fears of an outbreak escalating in South Korea, universities there have delayed the start of spring classes by two weeks.
KU said its Study Abroad and Global Engagement, or SAGE, program staff are in contact with students currently studying at partner universities in Seoul and those schools also are providing support for students in South Korea, which is subject to a Level 2 State Department Travel Advisory that recommends increased caution and Level 3 CDC Travel Warning.
“SAGE is actively monitoring the situation and will communicate changes as more information becomes available,” according to an updated release Tuesday from SAGE regarding the coronavirus.
KU has instituted similar measures for students in Italy, where several communities in northern Italy are aggressively trying to contain a coronavirus outbreak.
“KU is closely monitoring the situation in Italy,” the updated SAGE release said. “KU students currently abroad are being supported by their host institutions, on-site resident staff, and the SAGE team.”
More than 150 coronavirus cases have been confirmed, primarily in Italy’s Lodi Province, which is located just southeast of Milan.
The CDC has issued a Level 2 Travel Alert for Italy, urging enhanced precautions for travelers. Iran and Japan also are subject to a Level 2 Travel Alert for the coronavirus.
Those Level 2 CDC Travel Alerts warn that “the virus can spread from person to person. Older adults and those with chronic medical conditions should consider postponing nonessential travel.”
China and South Korea are the only countries currently subject to a Level 3 CDC Travel Warning, which recommends passengers avoid all nonessential travel to those countries.
But that doesn’t mean international travelers shouldn’t take precautions.
KU is encouraging all students to follow the World Health Organization’s advice for preventing the spread of coronavirus:
- Wash hands frequently;
- Stay 3 feet from anyone coughing or sneezing;
- Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth;
- Cover your mouth into a bent elbow or tissue when coughing or sneezing;
- Seek medical care early for a fever, cough or difficulty breathing.
The CDC also has its suggestions for minimizing your coronavirus risk.
