Pictured above: As of March 8, USF St. Petersburg hasn’t canceled study abroad trips planned for summer. The university is continuing to monitor the Coronavirus outbreak to figure out what to do. So far, no cases have been reported in Pinellas County. Jonah Hinebaugh | The Crow’s Nest
USF St. Petersburg has yet to see major limitations on travel programs and plans due to the coronavirus.
This is despite the announcement from USF system President Steve Currall on March 3 that the university canceled all international travel activities for spring break due to the virus –– including education abroad, student organizations or department-sponsored programs or conferences.
According to Carrie O’Brion, director of marketing and communications for USF St. Petersburg, there are no students participating in spring programs sanctioned by the campus.
As for summer, O’Brion said the university is still evaluating whether to cancel trips.
The decision to cancel summer programs would affect multiple education abroad programs put on by USF St. Petersburg, including Spanish Language and Culture in Salamanca; Food and Travel Writing in Spain and Portugal; and Costa Rica Education, Culture, and Environment.
So far, no cases of coronavirus or COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, have been reported in Pinellas County. As of March 8, 11 people statewide had tested positive for it –– at least four of those being in Manatee and Hillsborough counties –– and two have died, according to the Florida Department of Health.
Gov. Ron DeSantis announced March 7 that he directed the Florida Division of Emergency Management to activate to Level 2, according to WUSF.
The designation means “all primary, or lead, Emergency Support Functions are notified. The State Emergency Operations Center will be staffed by Division of Emergency Management personnel and necessary Emergency Support Functions.”
Colleges nationwide have had varying responses to the outbreak.
Some have announced a switch to remote courses and final exams, like the University of Washington – which made the decision to cancel in-person classes as the state grapples with more than 80 individuals who have tested positive for the virus and more than a dozen deaths, according to The New York Times.
Yeshiva University in New York City canceled classes until March 10 after a student tested positive for the virus.
Others, like Duke University, New York University and the University of Chicago, asked students and faculty to register their travel plans on a web-based form developed for emergencies like earthquakes and terrorist attacks, the Times reported.
While USF hasn’t required people to register their travel plans, university officials recommend staying up to date on countries’ risk assessments and to keep in mind that a country’s status may change at any time.
A country at a risk assessment level of three or four could make it difficult to leave, or access healthcare services and could require a self-isolation period before returning to campus.
To stay informed on the latest information regarding USF’s response to coronavirus, visit usf.edu/coronavirus.
