Robert Morris Nixes Study Abroad Trips Over Coronavirus Concerns

MOON TOWNSHIP, PA - Robert Morris University has canceled all study trips abroad over mounting concerns over the spread of COVID-19, the new coronavirus.

"We have indeed canceled all study abroad trips for the spring semester out of an abundance of caution, given the speed with which the coronavirus appears to be spreading across the globe and the likelihood that governments around the world may quickly impose travel restrictions or quarantine requirements," university spokesman Jonathan Potts said via email.

"We certainly are sorry for the disappointment and inconvenience this has caused some students, and we will work with them to ensure they are refunded costs and can make up any credit they would have earned on their travels."

The cancellations come on the heels of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's warning
Tuesday that communities across the nation should begin preparing for the spread of the virus across the United States.

According to the World Health Organization, at least 80,000 people have been infected and 2,700 people have died from the new coronavirus, creating a global pandemic. It is spreading so quickly overseas that infectious disease experts and scientists warn there may be no way to contain it.