Temple's Education Abroad Office has canceled several spring and summer study abroad programs due to the COVID-19 outbreak. | CLAUDIA SALVATO / THE TEMPLE NEWS
Temple University has canceled a slew of spring and summer study abroad programs amid the spread of COVID-19, a strain of coronavirus.
The university’s Spring 2020 and Summer 2020 Temple Japan program, Summer 2020 Rome program and Intellectual Heritage programs in Artena, Sicily, Siena, France, Spain, Berlin, Leipzig, Rome and Serbia were canceled Friday, according to the Education Abroad Office. The Klein College of Media Communication canceled all of its summer study abroad programs on Thursday.
What is COVID-19?
COVID-19 is a disease caused by a new coronavirus which was first discovered in Wuhan, China in December 2019. It causes respiratory illnesses. The disease has since spread to dozens of countries, and on March 11, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak of coronavirus a pandemic.
What are the symptoms of COVID-19?
Symptoms of COVID-19 include a high fever, cough and shortness of breath. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that symptoms can be mild or severe and appear 2-14 days after being exposed to the disease.
The United States Department of State issued an advisory against all global travel due to the severity of the COVID-19 outbreak on Thursday, according to their website.
What to do if you are sick?
Stay home, avoid public areas and avoid public transportation if you feel sick. You should isolate yourself from people as much as possible and limit contact with pets and animals. You should call your doctor and schedule an apointment before visiting a doctor’s office, urgent care, etc. You or your doctor should alert a health department of your illness.
If you are sick, you should wear a facemask around other people. Cover your coughs and sneezes and wash your hands often for 20 seconds with soap and water.
“We’ve been canceling those programs because it’s unclear if health conditions will be better everywhere in the world by then,” wrote Ray Betzner, a university spokesperson, in an email to The Temple News.
The Education Abroad Office is accepting applications for the 2020-21 academic year and Fall 2020 semester for Temple Rome and Temple Japan, according to its website. The office is also accepting applications for the Spring 2021 semester for Temple Rome, Temple Japan and Oviedo, Spain.
What can you do prevent the spread of COVID-19?
The virus is mainly spread from person to person. This includes between people have been within six feet of each other or through respiratory droplets created when an infected person coughs or sneezes. To limit the spread, avoid close contact with people who are sick. Cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough. Wash your hands often with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds.
If soap and water are not available, use alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60 perecent alcohol. If you cough or sneeze, wash your hands immediately after.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
Clean high-touch surfaces, like tabletops, doorknobs, toilets, keyboards and tablets. Use a household cleaner to disinfect the surfaces.
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