In light of the growing coronavirus outbreak in China, school divisions and post-secondary institutions across Alberta are adjusting their travel plans. Here’s what we know:
Edmonton Public Schools
Edmonton Public Schools has cancelled all field trips to the country for the rest of the school year.
The decision was made late Wednesday afternoon, in light of the federal government travel advisory recommending that Canadians “avoid non-essential travel to China.”
READ MORE: More airlines follow suit as Air Canada suspends flights to China over coronavirus
The government also advised avoiding all travel to the province of Hubei, including the cities of Wuhan, Huanggang and Ezhou, due to the imposition of heavy travel restrictions in order to limit the spread of a novel coronavirus.
In total, five field trips have been cancelled as a result of the decision, the EPSB said, adding parents have already been contacted by their school to inform them of the cancellations.
The field trips had been scheduled between March 19 and May 31, with 106 students and staff set to visit Beijing, Jinan, Qingdao, Tai’an, Chengdu and Shanghai.
“Edmonton Public Schools knows field trips involving travel provide invaluable learning and life experiences and we’ve been proud to make those opportunities available to students for many years,” a statement from the school board said.
“However, student and staff safety are paramount and must be at the root of all our decisions.”
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More information will be shared with families by their school principal, Edmonton public said.
Edmonton Catholic Schools
Edmonton Catholic Schools said last week none of its schools had any trips planned to China this year.
University of Calgary
On Thursday, the University of Calgary announced it was temporarily suspending all university-related travel to China.
The university said the move was to protect the safety and well-being of students, faculty and staff, and alternate arrangements would be made for students who were scheduled to study abroad in China this semester.
Arrangements were being made to help two students and one faculty member to return home from Beijing, where they are living.
Calgary Board of Education
The Calgary Board of Education said it was taking its direction from Alberta Health Services, and as of Wednesday had not asked any students returning from China to remain home from school.
University of Alberta
There are two University of Alberta students studying abroad in China right now, but not in any of the regions affected by the virus. As of Wednesday, the university said the students had not requested help to relocate.
The university has not implemented any travel restrictions but said it continues to monitor the situation.
Other school divisions
Global News reached out to several school boards in the Edmonton region and in central Alberta on Thursday.
The following said they had no trips planned to China this year:
- Parkland School Division
- Black Gold School Division
- Elk Island Public Schools
- Elk Island Catholic Schools
- St. Albert Public Schools
- Wetaskiwin Regional Public Schools
- Red Deer Public Schools
- Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools
About the new coronavirus
As of Thursday morning, China had reported 170 deaths and at least 7,800 infections were confirmed worldwide from the virus that emerged last month in the central city of Wuhan.
READ MORE: Coronavirus death toll in China rises to 170 as ‘great concern’ arises over transmission
Sports, transport and cultural events have been cancelled across the country and over 50 million people are under a government lockdown in central China.
Canada announced this week that it is preparing to fly a plane to Wuhan to get Canadians out.
Canada’s top foreign-affairs official told a House of Commons committee Thursday that 156 Canadians have asked for help to leave.
Marta Morgan, deputy minister of foreign affairs, said Canada is still working to get Chinese approval to send a chartered plane to collect them.
For more information on the new coronavirus, visit Alberta Health Service’s website.
— With files from Hina Alam, The Canadian Press, and The Associated Press
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