WEST LAFAYETTE — Purdue University is the latest Indiana university to suspend university-sponsored travel to more countries due to the coronavirus.
Travel to South Korea, Iran, Italy, and Japan has been suspended because the countries are listed as a level 2 or level 3 risks for the coronavirus by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, according to a press release from the university.
On Feb. 1, Purdue suspended university-sponsored travel to China due to the virus, according to a press release.
PREVIOUS | Trump appoints Pence to head nation's coronavirus response | CDC upgrades travel notices for South Korea, Italy, Iran amid COVID-19 outbreaks | Tips on how to prevent catching, spreading coronavirus
No confirmed cases of the coronavirus have been found at Purdue, according to the release.
The university is monitoring updates from the CDC and will send updates to the campus community if any changes are made to its current plan, according to the release.
Butler, Indiana, and Ball State universities have also suspended travel to China and are monitoring the situation.
The each released the following statements to RTV6 on Wednesday:
Butler University
"Butler University is closely monitoring the global coronavirus situation and making any necessary preparations. Currently, there are no confirmed cases of the coronavirus at Butler, and we are proactively screening all student-patients who visit Butler Health Services. No Butler students were studying abroad in China during fall 2019, and we do not have any students in China this semester. Butler has temporarily suspended University travel to and from China for faculty, staff, and students."
Indiana University
"We’ve been holding daily meetings on the current and potential response to the coronavirus for over a month. Much of our Public Safety and Institutional Assurance team is focused exclusively on this at the moment. We’re in communication with any study abroad students about the latest information in the countries where they may be studying. Of course we’ve already brought home any students who were studying in China and no students will travel to countries that the U.S. has placed on a restricted travel list."
Ball State University
"Consistent with Ball State University policies and procedures, anytime the U.S. Department of State issues a Travel Advisory Level 4 designation for a particular region we suspend all work-related travel. This was effective starting January 30 and it will remain in place until the U.S. State Department reduces the travel advisory level. Our goal is to keep our Ball State community – including our employees and students – safe."
