Kent State cancels spring break trips to Italy, Vietnam
This scanning electron microscope image shows SARS-CoV-2 (yellow)—also known as 2019-nCoV, the virus that causes COVID-19—isolated from a patient in the U.S., emerging from the surface of cells (blue/pink) cultured in the lab.
March 3, 2020
Kent State announced on Tuesday the cancellation of all scheduled spring break trips to Italy and Vietnam in light of the coronavirus outbreak.
In an email to the Kent State community, the university said it does not permit travel to or through countries issued a Level 3 travel warning by the CDC. The CDC issued a Level 3 travel warning for Italy. Vietnam does not have a Level 3 travel warning, but the flight for the spring break trip would have gone through South Korea, which does.
Kent State also prohibited university-sponsored travel to Level 3 travel warning countries for faculty and staff for any purpose, including consulting, conferences and grant work. The university will continue to cancel trips to or through any additional countries that receive Level 3 travel warnings.
“As we make decisions in reaction to the coronavirus (COVID-19), we will continue to always be driven by our long-standing Office of Global Education practice covering international travel, which is to follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) travel warnings,” the email said.
The university advised students, faculty and staff to be cautious about their travel plans over spring break and encouraged them to be aware of the CDC’s warnings. Kent State also recommended anyone who has traveled to or through a Level 3 travel warning country and develops a fever or symptoms of respiratory illness to seek medical advice.
Paige Bennett is a general assignment reporter. Contact her at [email protected].
