The University System of Georgia enacted a ban on travel to China for all USG faculty, staff and students Monday, Feb. 3, in response to the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak.
All 26 public universities in Georgia are affected by this travel ban for as long as the World Health Organization labels the coronavirus outbreak a “Public Health Emergency of International Concern,” USG Vice Chancellor Aaron Diamant said.
The travel ban is in line with the United States Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs’ China Travel Advisory, which places traveling to China at a level four advisory — the highest level — warning Americans not to travel to China.
“The purpose of the ban is to ensure the health and safety of all students, faculty and staff within USG and its institutions,” Diamant said.
The number of people affected by the USG’s travel ban is difficult to determine because faculty travel commitments are not centrally managed by the USG, Diamant said.
All USG institutions have preexisting protocols for contagious diseases established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Georgia Department of Public Health, Diamant said.
The travel ban is only for travel to China as of Friday, Feb. 7, in accordance with the China Travel Advisory, Diamant said. As the WHO updates the situation, the travel ban could be extended to other countries with confirmed cases.
The China Travel Advisory is also subject to change due to the rapid spread of the coronavirus with little or no advance notice to the effects on travel, according to the Bureau of Consular Affairs.
“Summer study abroad programs and travel should continue to be assessed with contingency plans in case the current levels remain in place,” USG Vice Chancellor Lance Wallace said, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
KSU’s Office of International Safety and Security has issued a travel notice updated to all KSU students, faculty and staff looking to travel to China.
“The university strongly encourages all members of the Kennesaw State University community to reconsider travel to China at this time due to the uncertain and evolving nature of the coronavirus outbreak situation … The university has limited capacity to assist travelers impacted by delays or quarantine abroad,” according to the OISS website.
KSU has cancelled the study abroad program to China for the Summer 2020 semester and says that all university-sponsored travel to China must be pre-approved and will be looked at on a case-to-case basis, according to the OISS website.
Georgia’s largest private university, Emory University, has enacted a similar ban, according to the AJC.
As of Friday, Feb. 7, it is unknown if other public and private universities in Georgia will enact a similar ban to that of the University System of Georgia and Emory University.
The Savannah College of Art and Design, which has a campus in Hong Kong, stated that it is closely monitoring the situation, according to the AJC.
As of Sunday, Feb. 9, there were 37,558 confirmed cases of coronavirus worldwide, according to a WHO Situation Report. Most cases are in the central China province of Hubei, according to The New York Times.
As of Saturday, at least 810 have died worldwide from the coronavirus, according to The Washington Post.
Thursday, Feb. 6, a 53-year-old U.S. citizen died at a Wuhan hospital, while 12 Americans have been diagnosed with the illness, according to The Washington Post.
Japan also saw its first death of a citizen from what is suspected to be the coronavirus in Wuhan Saturday, according to CNN.
The coronavirus is reported to currently be affecting 28 countries and territories globally, according to CNN.
