Fear of the Coronavirus rises following outbreak in Northern Italy
By Garrett Amill with additional reporting by Peter O’Neill
Following the outbreak of the coronavirus in Northern Italy, Quinnipiac University officials have strongly urged students studying abroad there to return home.
In a letter sent by Jennifer Brown, interim provost and executive vice president, and Mark Tortora, associate director of education abroad programs, to QU students studying in Italy sent Wednesday, Feb. 26, 3:33 p.m., QU urged students to return and complete the semester at home through online courses.
The letter also said that students who returned would be required to stay off of campus for two weeks.
Several other universities are pulling their students out of study abroad programs, including Connecticut’s Fairfield University, Sacred Heart University and the University of New Haven.
Tortora worked through Tuesday night researching and discussing options, as well as talking with parents, according to Quinnipiac’s Department of Cultural and Global Engagement.
Sydney Reynolds is a Quinnipiac sophomore Media Studies major studying in Rome this semester through API, a partner program.
“(Infections aren’t) in Rome, but someone said, ‘It’s best to be aware, not anxious,’” she said via Zoom Wednesday morning.
“I’m trying to not to freak myself out,” she said, adding that a trip to Tuscany for the weekend of Feb. 29 has been canceled. “All the study abroad students are so on edge. It’s the only thing we talk about.”
Reynolds, 19, said she takes a tram to campus each day and “lots of people” are wearing masks in an effort to avoid contracting the virus, however, she does not want to return home.
“I’ve invested a lot of money studying abroad — not just tuition… but I’ve also spent a lot of money on plane tickets, hotels, buses. I’d lose so much money if I got sent home,” Reynolds said.
She said her parents plan to join her in Europe in two weeks for spring break, but those plans are in question as they were to travel to Venice, which is locked down to prevent the spread of the virus.
“I have no idea if we can do that, now,” Reynolds said.
Reynolds said she plans to stay in Italy after hearing QU’s warning. “I discussed it with my parents,” she said via email after receiving Quinnipiac’s letter. “If it comes to Rome and starts getting bigger, I will probably leave. Would rather be home than be quarantined.”
The Centers for Disease Control issued a “Level 2” advisory to “exercise increased caution,” it Italy, as it had been prior to the cluster of coronavirus cases in Northern Italy. The CDC does not recommend canceling or postponing travel to Italy, the advisory said.
A representative of Quinnipiac’s Department of Cultural and Global Engagement is unsure at this time how many Quinnipiac students are based in Italy, but Tortola, who was unavailable, knows.
Tortora sent an email on Feb. 23 advising students in Italy to be vigilant and review CDC updates before traveling anywhere.
As of Feb. 26, the World Health Organization reports 322 cases of coronavirus in Italy. 11 people have died. These numbers are rising.