by Abby Koch–With coronavirus spreading around the world and rising in death toll, Morningside administration has taken action to protect students who are traveling. Morningside is taking necessary precautions for their traveling abroad students and students who intend to travel during spring break.
First concerns were directed to students in Italy for the semester abroad program to recall them back to the states due to travel advisory warnings. Italy was labeled with a level-three travel advisory, the second-highest level warning, from the U.S. Department of State. The New York Times has reported Italy has seen a jump in death toll due to the virus and restricting movement of its citizens.
Morningside administration has worked with government officials, health officials, and students and faculty in Italy to ensure the students’ safety traveling back. The administration has worked on getting students back home by March 13, covering the cost of rebooking tickets and other expenses.
“I am upset that we are being recalled back to the States, but I understand that the school does not want to be liable for anyone getting sick with coronavirus,” said Junior Kaden Orndorff, one of the students in Italy. Orndorff plans to make arrangements back home after his spring break ends. He complimented how the college has put their best efforts to make sure they stay informed and preventing the virus.
Orndorff has felt the effects of the Italian government implementing traveling restrictions already and fear of getting sick. “The government has put out multiple alerts about travel to different parts of Italy, saying along the line of only travel if it’s absolutely necessary,” said Orndorff. “Also, travelling from Italy to Greece, about 40 people of around 200 tickets sold for my flight actually showed up.”
All of the Italy semester abroad students will return to their off-campus residences to complete the semester online. The students have also been advised to prepare for necessary health precautions.
Students currently spending time in the Netherlands and in Spain are currently at no risk, but Morningside will keep in contact with study abroad partners in case of changes.
“I feel terrible for all of those students who got sent home who were in Italy,” stated senior Alex Homan, who is currently studying in Netherlands. “Studying abroad is a once in a lifetime experience and it is heartbreaking having that get cut short. I’m worried the same thing can happen to the students here in the Netherlands and it would be very unfortunate.”
Homan said that there is a bigger concern towards being sent home than contracting coronavirus where she is at. “The topic is highly talked about and it seems like most people I have talked to think that the coronavirus is perceived more serious than it actually is and that it doesn’t make sense if people get sent back home because the coronavirus is also in the United States,” said Homan.
The New York Times reported that the US has passed 500 cases of the illness. The death toll has also risen to 22 deaths.
For now, Homan hopes coronavirus cases in Netherlands do not rise. “It is sometimes scary seeing people wearing masks when you’re traveling, wondering if they have the coronavirus,” she said. “However, I think people studying abroad are trying to think positive because they don’t want to get sent back.”
Morningside administration has advised to those who plan to travel to non-college sponsored destinations to follow guidelines set by the CDC and the U.S. Department of State.
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