Advertisement

Parent wants Dartmouth High’s trip to Europe cancelled amid COVID-19 outbreak

Click to play video: 'N.S. high school’s march break trip to avoid northern Italy due to coronavirus'
N.S. high school’s march break trip to avoid northern Italy due to coronavirus
As new cases of the Coronavirus are confirmed in Europe, some parents are raising concerns over trips to the region this March break. Dartmouth High is among a number of school students heading to Europe. Alicia Draus has more on how the school is planning ahead. – Feb 25, 2020

A father of a grade 11 student at Dartmouth High says he would like to see an upcoming March break trip to Europe cancelled, amid growing concerns of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Over the weekend Italian officials confirmed an outbreak of the virus in the northern region of the country, which includes Milan. On Tuesday both Austria and Croatia also confirmed their first case of the virus.

READ MORE: COVID-19: 10 dead in Italy as number of virus cases rises 45%

“Under the current conditions I just think it’s really socially irresponsible to be sending these kids there,” said parent John MacEachern.

The trip was scheduled to start in Milan, Italy, then make stops in Cinque Terre, Monaco, and southern France before ending in Madrid, Spain.

Tour company EF tours has confirmed to Global News that they are changing itineraries so that no trips are being sent “to the impacted regions in Northern Italy.”

Story continues below advertisement

READ MORE: N.S. high school’s march break trip to avoid northern Italy due to coronavirus

Receive the latest medical news and health information delivered to you every Sunday.

Get weekly health news

Receive the latest medical news and health information delivered to you every Sunday.
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

But MacEachern says that’s not good enough, and says students shouldn’t be heading to Europe at all.

“It’s like saying okay we understand Sackville is under lock-down so now we’re going to vacation in Bedford,” said MacEachern.

“I can’t send my kid to an emerging pandemic with origins they don’t really know yet, it’s really irresponsible,” he said.

But with the trip just two weeks away, MacEachern says he is unable to get a refund if he cancels himself.

Click to play video: 'COVID-19: CDC official says spread of virus in U.S. a question of ‘when’ not ‘if’'
COVID-19: CDC official says spread of virus in U.S. a question of ‘when’ not ‘if’

Speaking to Global News on the phone, Eartha Monard, the principal of Dartmouth High says it’s also not up to the school whether or not a trip is cancelled. She said the trip is organized with EF tours so they make the call, unless the Halifax Regional Centre for Education (HRCE) gets involved.

Story continues below advertisement

Over the phone, spokesperson for HRCE Doug Hadley said in the past they have only cancelled trips twice, in 2001 after 9/11 and in 2015 when there was a government warning in regards to terrorism in France.

On Tuesday, the Government of Canada posted a travel health notice to their website about the COVID-19 virus in northern Italy. It advises against spending time in large crowds, and to avoid contact with sick people, but the risk level for Italy has not been changed from “take normal security precautions.”

READ MORE: Canadian excited for ‘normal meals’ after being released from coronavirus quarantine

In a statement Hadley says they are “closely monitoring the situation which includes reviewing government health and travel advisories for the region,” and that “schools are working with tour operatives to examine alternative options.”

Although the trip is scheduled to go ahead MacEacher says his son won’t be on it.

“They’re travelling by trains, planes and automobiles, we don’t know how long this [virus] lasts in organic materials,” he said. “There’s a lot we don’t know so no it’s not worth it to me. I don’t want to swallow five thousand dollars, but he’s not going.”

Sponsored content

AdChoices