Coronavirus fear causes NC school district to cancel overseas student trips
The Chapel Hill-Carrboro school system is canceling all international school-sponsored field trips and encouraging all individual overseas trips to be postponed amid concerns about the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.
In a message sent to families and staff Wednesday, Chapel Hill-Carrboro schools noted that many students have overseas trips planned during spring break, which starts April 6, on either school-sponsored or private trips.
But because of the outbreak of coronavirus, school leaders say all overseas school-sponsored trips are being canceled “for the safety and well-being of our students and staff.”
“Although we do not have the authority to stop private travel by individuals or groups outside of the school district, we are strongly recommending that all international trips are postponed at this time,” CHCCS says in the email.
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The email comes a day after North Carolina had its first reported case of COVID-19. State officials said Tuesday that a Wake County resident was exposed to the virus in Washington state, where there is a COVID-19 outbreak at a long-term care facility, the News & Observer previously reported.
As part of the warning, school leaders noted that individuals who travel internationally are subject to federal and state health guidelines, including restrictions and/or quarantines upon return to the United States.
“Additionally, if you or your child visit a region that is placed on CDC Level 3 warning, you may experience canceled flights and restricted travel by local authorities, and CHCCS will not be able to intervene on anyone’s behalf,” the district says in the email.
Schools urge good hygiene practices
School officials in Wake County, which is North Carolina’s largest school district, say they have not directed schools to cancel international trips.
But Wake is among the school districts that have announced how they’re working with health officials to deal with potential local outbreaks. The common message from schools is for students to practice good hygiene and approach coronavirus the same as they would the flu.
“As of today, March 3, NCDHHS has not recommended that healthy students and staff avoid school,” Durham Public Schools posted Tuesday. “However, as always, we encourage students and staff who are ill to stay home and get better.
“We also encourage students and staff to practice excellent hygiene: frequent hand washing, covering your mouth when you sneeze or cough, and cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces.”
The Orange County school system told families it’s forming a committee to develop a plan that addresses the potential COVID-19 threat. Their work includes determining a plan so that students who are unable to attend school due to COVID-19 can still learn .
The Johnston County school system emailed employees to let them know that representatives from the district’s Operations and Student Services departments will meet with county health leaders Wednesday to learn of additional steps they can take.
This story was originally published March 4, 2020 at 10:24 AM.
