Urbana, Ill. – Over the last few weeks, fears of the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak have grown both internationally and on campus.  While no cases are being reported in the Champaign-Urbana community, the University is still taking precautions to preemptively prevent the spread and impact of the virus.

A number of previously-planned international and domestic spring break immersion trips have been cancelled.  According to the University of Illinois News Bureau, all international spring break programs have been cancelled, such as the College of Businesses trip to South America, and certain domestic programs, such as the Advertising Department’s trip to Seattle, have also been cancelled.

The University is advising that all students studying in a country with a Level 3 advisory—meaning that all nonessential travel should be avoided—should return home of leave to accommodations in another region, and the offer to end their international program is being extended to all students abroad as well regardless of their country of stay.  Protocol states that students returning from these regions are required to self-quarantine for 14 days before returning to campus.

Both at home and abroad, some schools are cancelling instruction all together.  The University of Washington in Seattle and Stanford University have cancelled all in-person classes on campus as it moves its instruction online for the duration of their quarter.  Both schools have reported staff members have tested positive with the disease.

Ohio has declared a state of emergency after three people in the state tested positive for the disease, and six others have been quarantined due to contact with the patients.  In Illinois, the number of confirmed cases is still at seven and no deaths have occurred.

In a report from CNN on Monday, the number of reported cases in China seems to be dropping as compared with the previous weeks.  Businesses and schools are beginning to reopen, including more than 100 Chinese high schools.

More information from the University can be found at covid19.illinois.edu.  We will continue to provide updates as they become available.