CAMPUS

Worcester colleges urge caution over coronavirus

Brian Lee
Brian.Lee@telegram.com

WORCESTER — As concerns of the spread of the coronavirus mount, Assumption College extended its suspension of school-related travel to Tuscany, while some other local colleges have also curtailed travel and canceled classes at partner programs overseas.

As reports continue to come in about the spread of the potent virus across the globe, Assumption College President Francesco C. Cesareo said in an email to students and parents that while the college's goal is to complete the full semester at its northern Rome campus, efforts are underway to develop contingency plans.

Citing the U.S. State Department, the U.S. embassies where Assumption College students are studying, and domestic and international media, Cesareo said Rome remains relatively unaffected by coronavirus right now.

But "incidents of coronavirus do continue to rise in the northern region of Italy," he continued.

"Following careful consideration and much discussion with faculty in Rome, we have taken the precautionary step of extending the suspended-travel area for College-sponsored and independent travel to include the Tuscany region. While only two cases of coronavirus are confirmed in this particular region as of today, this decision was made out of an abundance of caution and in the best interest of our students. We are in communication with AIFS, our third-party provider in Florence, regarding the status of the program in which our students there are studying. At the present time the Florence program is fully operational. We are monitoring this as well should there be any changes that will impact continuation of the Florence program. Students engaged with other study abroad providers should follow the advice of their program administrator for the time being with regard to travel."

The college opened a campus in Rome in 2013.

"Our Rome faculty shared that most students are more concerned with the possibility of having to return home early than the threat of coronavirus," Cesareo said. "We are pleased students are enjoying their semester thus far at the Rome Campus. Regardless, know that our analysis of this matter and our response is always made with the safety of our students as the priority."

Clark University said an advisory put in place last month still holds, and Clark students, faculty, and staff are being asked to avoid any travel to China.

Also, according to the university's study abroad office, no Clark students currently studying abroad are impacted by a canceled program. As a precaution, classes at the school's partner site in Perugia, Italy, have been canceled this week and students are advised not to travel into or out of Italy over mid-semester break next week.

Worcester Polytechnic Institute sent a message to the campus community saying it is monitoring the coronavirus outbreak. The school said that in light of the State Department's elevation of the travel warning for China, there will be no WPI-sponsored travel for students, faculty or staff to China until further notice.

According to WPI, it is taking precautions locally to increase disinfection work for all points of public contact on campus, including door handles, handrails, and other high-touch areas in academic, residential, and other buildings. More hand sanitizers and sanitizer dispensers can be found around campus, and campus food servers are being extra vigilant about sanitizing food stations and dining areas, the school said.

Telegram & Gazette reporter Steven H. Foskett Jr. contributed to this report.