All future COVID-19 related updates can be found on our new, dedicated web page. We will continue to share updates on how we are monitoring and handling the situation as it unfolds.
[February 25, 2020: Update to original post shared on January 22]
As COVID19 continues to make world headlines, we would like to reiterate our approach to monitoring and assessing health risks to travelers.
We are continually monitoring COVID19 using a full array of information sources, from data driven assessments—Center for Disease Control, World Health Organization, and the John Hopkins dashboard; to eye-witness accounts—stories from major media outlets and on-the-ground suppliers; to US policy-based sources—Department of State and OSAC; to our risk management partner, Global Rescue. In a situation such as this one, that has been known to change hourly, our approach is rigorous yet prudent. We follow the crest of new information, while balancing our assessments on both short-term waves and long-term undercurrents.
During events such as these, we also believe that it’s important to streamline communications. We are in direct contact with affected travelers and partners as we make decisions and adjust plans to specific travel programs. For more general concerns, we maintain this web page as major situational updates demand.
At the time of this writing, while we continue to monitor upcoming programs to Italy as well as other destinations, we have not yet cancelled any departures. If you have questions or concerns about your own travel program, we encourage you to reach out to Kate Simpson, President ([email protected] or 202-349-7332) or Chase Poffenberger, Executive Vice President ([email protected] or 202-349-7330).
[January 30, 2020: Update to original post shared on January 22]
On Thursday, January 30, the U.S. Department of State raised their China travel advisory from a level 3 (Reconsider Travel) to a level 4 (Do Not Travel) due to the 2019-nCoV (coronavirus) outbreak. Earlier the same day, the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus outbreak to be a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), allowing authorities to mobilize resources to contain the virus’ spread. (The WHO has applied this designation, created in 2005, five previous times: for the swine flu in 2009, polio in 2014 and Ebola and Zika in 2016 and most recently Ebola again in 2019.) We continue to monitor the developments in China through many sources, including this Johns Hopkins dashboard.
Our study abroad (CET Academic Programs) spring China programs have been cancelled and any students who were in China have returned home or will return home shortly. At the time of this writing, we do not foresee cancelling or altering any of our non-China programs this spring.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at [email protected].
[Original post: January 22, 2020]
Academic Travel Abroad is closely monitoring the recent outbreak of coronavirus and related cases of pneumonia in China. The illness was first reported on December 31, 2019 in Wuhan (in central China). There are now a number of cases in other major Asian cities as well as one in the United States. All individuals currently infected are believed to have contracted the virus while in Wuhan. Several countries have implemented public health measures and China is actively cooperating with international health organizations.
At the time of this writing, the World Health Organization (WHO) and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) both provide tips for travelers heading to or currently in China and Wuhan. The CDC encourages all in the region to practice enhanced precautions for preventing colds and other respiratory illness. The US Department of State concurs with the CDC.
In light of these recommendations, ATA plans to proceed with all programs in Asia at this time. We are providing our travelers with tips on staying healthy while traveling. We are monitoring this health issue daily through government, open access, and local informational channels and will update you should our plans require adjustment.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at [email protected].
