CANTON, Ohio — Walsh University is bringing all of its students studying abroad in Rome, Italy home due to growing coronavirus concerns in that country and elsewhere.
The decision to bring students back to the U.S. was made following the Center for Disease Control's move to issue a Level 3 Travel Health Notice for Italy, asking all Americans to avoid "nonessential travel" to the country.
The students are returning after just one week of studying at a campus just outside of Rome. The students were enrolled in an eight week program.
The University has begun making travel arrangement for all students. They are expected to return to Canton Monday evening.
"Walsh University feels this was a necessary measure to ensure the safety and well-being of our students, which is always our highest priority," the school said in a press release.
The University is working directly with all students and their parents to ensure they may continue their studies without interruption.
Kent State University made a similar decision late Saturday evening. The University is bringing all of its students currently studying abroad in Florence, Italy home due to the same risks and concerns.
The school is also asking students to self-isolate for at least 14 days.
Miami University in Oxford is taking similar steps, "urging" (but not requiring) all students currently studying in Italy and South Korea to return to the U.S., and says officials are ready to help them do so. Two students at the school who are from China were tested for the coronavirus earlier this month, but both came back negative.So far, the state has yet to have a confirmed case of coronavirus.
So far, coronavirus has infected more than 86,000 people and killed more than 2,900, including nearly 30 people in Italy. Washington state officials also announced Saturday that a King County man has become the first person to die from the disease inside the United States.